Systems and methods using an invocation model of process expression

ABSTRACT

Invocation language is described that is suitable for controlling a machine to perform a process having concurrent parts. Each concurrent part has an association relationship, a completeness relation, and an invocation expression.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. application 60/840,725,filed on Aug. 29, 2006, the disclosure of which is expresslyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to systems and methods for performing concurrentprocesses, especially methods and machines for carrying out computing,control, communications, and other processes.

2. Discussion of Background Information

Computer science inherited its present conceptual foundations from abranch of mathematics that had been exploring the fundamental nature ofmathematical computation. That foundation resulted in conceptualapproaches to process expression that are ill suited to many concurrentprocesses of the real world.

SUMMARY

Improved systems and methods of process expression are disclosed,including an improved language for expressing and implementingconcurrent processes.

Other exemplary embodiments and advantages of the present invention maybe ascertained by reviewing the present disclosure and the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further described in the detailed descriptionwhich follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way ofnon-limiting examples of certain embodiments of the present invention,in which like numerals represent like elements throughout the severalviews of the drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a Network of Boolean functions;

FIG. 2 illustrates Monotonically alternating wavefronts of completelydata and completely not-data;

FIG. 3 illustrates Boolean operators enhanced with NULL value and stateholding behavior;

FIG. 4 illustrates the completeness criterion for a combinationalexpression as a whole;

FIG. 5 illustrates identical concurrent networks mapping to differentprimitives;

FIG. 6 illustrates a concurrent network coordinating its own inputforming a cycle;

FIG. 7 illustrates coupled cycles forming a pipeline;

FIG. 8 illustrates four bit adder and composition boundaries;

FIG. 9 illustrates four bit adder cycle;

FIG. 10 illustrates four-bit-adder coordinated at full-adder boundaries;

FIG. 11 illustrates four bit adder partitioned an mapped to sequentialthreads;

FIG. 12 illustrates labeled partial ordered expression;

FIG. 13 illustrates the full-adder mapped to fully ordered operationswith memory;

FIG. 14 illustrates sequential expression with sequence controller;

FIG. 15 illustrates Boolean full-adder;

FIG. 16 illustrates Boolean full-adder mapped to a rich symbolexpression;

FIG. 17 illustrates mapping of value transform rules;

FIG. 18 illustrates resolution progression for pure symbol expression offull-adder;

FIG. 19 illustrates three forms of a single expression;

FIG. 20A illustrates graphical expression of the associationrelationships of the distance equation;

FIG. 20B illustrates association structure of the functional expressionof the distance equation;

FIG. 21 illustrates the static and dynamic forms of mutual association;

FIG. 22 illustrates Roman numeral addition in shaking bag;

FIG. 23 illustrates modified Roman numeral addition in shaking bag;

FIG. 24 illustrates association loci;

FIG. 25 illustrates directionalizing the behavior of associations ofthengs;

FIG. 26 illustrates the directionalized unit of association;

FIG. 27 illustrates stylized presentations of structures of units ofassociation or operators;

FIG. 28 illustrates association directionalizing switches;

FIG. 29 illustrates successive wavefronts monotonically transitioningbetween symbolically disjoint expressions;

FIG. 30 illustrates set of completeness appreciating Boolean operators;

FIG. 31 illustrates the completeness criterion for a network ofoperators as a whole;

FIG. 32 illustrates mapping to the NULL convention;

FIG. 33 illustrates 2 value variable formed from two places;

FIG. 34 illustrates multi path NCL variables;

FIG. 35 illustrates threshold operator;

FIG. 36 illustrates value transform rules for 2 of 2 operator;

FIG. 37 illustrates a two variable pure association expression;

FIG. 38 illustrates the M of N threshold operators;

FIG. 39 illustrates spectrum of differentiation expression;

FIG. 40 illustrates association search;

FIG. 41 illustrates alternating value and association differentiation;

FIG. 42 illustrates an association search;

FIG. 43 illustrates alternating value and association differentiation;

FIG. 44 illustrates baseline example process;

FIG. 45 illustrates mapping of four values onto the baseline process;

FIG. 46 illustrates a four value equality transform;

FIG. 47 illustrates a four value rotate transform;

FIG. 48 illustrates transform IJ to LL;

FIG. 49 illustrates four value name recognition expression;

FIG. 50 illustrates optimized four value name recognition;

FIG. 51 illustrates four value assertion operator;

FIG. 52 illustrates four value priority transform;

FIG. 53 illustrates generation of Y output value;

FIG. 54 illustrates modified Y output assertion;

FIG. 55 illustrates optimized generation of Y output;

FIG. 56 illustrates the complete four value expression;

FIG. 57 illustrates the four value operators and the Boolean operators;

FIG. 58 illustrates a universal four value operator;

FIG. 59 illustrates universal four value rotate transform;

FIG. 60 illustrates universal four value equality operator;

FIG. 61 illustrates universal four value assert operator;

FIG. 62 illustrates universal four value priority operator;

FIG. 63 illustrates example expression in terms of universal four valuetransforms;

FIG. 64 illustrates mapping of nine values onto baseline process;

FIG. 65 illustrates mapping of fifteen values onto the baseline process;

FIG. 66 illustrates mapping of three values onto the baseline process;

FIG. 67 illustrates mapping of two values onto baseline process;

FIG. 68 illustrates two value expression;

FIG. 69 illustrates mapping of one data value onto baseline process;

FIG. 70 illustrates example expressions on spectrum;

FIG. 71 illustrates a full-adder expression;

FIG. 72 illustrates composed full-adder expressions;

FIG. 73 illustrates full-adder in terms of two input operators;

FIG. 74 illustrates full-adder in terms of more limited two inputoperators;

FIG. 75 illustrates half-adder boundaries of the full-adder;

FIG. 76 illustrates NULL Convention Logic pure association expression offull-adder;

FIG. 77 illustrates minterm expression of full-adder;

FIG. 78 illustrates full-adder with values assigned to paths;

FIG. 79 illustrates mapping of value transform rules from operators;

FIG. 80 illustrates set of value transform rules for full-adder withcompleteness boundaries;

FIG. 81 illustrates progression of resolution for pure value expressionwith completeness boundaries;

FIG. 82 illustrates four bit adder with boundaries;

FIG. 83 illustrates feedback self coordination cycle for full adder;

FIG. 84 illustrates cycles with interlinked self coordination;

FIG. 85 illustrates full-adder with integrated coordination;

FIG. 86 illustrates cycle coordination at the data path level;

FIG. 87 illustrates successive wavefronts of the coordinated four bitadder;

FIG. 88 illustrates four bit adder coordinated at the intermediatelevel;

FIG. 89 illustrates successive wavefronts of the intermediate levelpipelined four-bit adder;

FIG. 90 illustrates four bit adder coordinated at the primitive level;

FIG. 91 illustrates successive wavefronts of the primitive levelpipelined four bit adder;

FIG. 92 illustrates naïve realignment completion demand across datapath;

FIG. 93 illustrates triangle buffer recovering temporally alignedwavefront flow;

FIG. 94 illustrates inverted triangle buffer generating skewed wavefrontflow;

FIG. 95 illustrates association expression with composition boundaries;

FIG. 96 illustrates network hierarchically partitioned at level 1;

FIG. 97 illustrates lower hierarchical partition as a set of expressiontypes;

FIG. 98 illustrates network laterally partitioned along level 2boundaries;

FIG. 99 illustrates two lateral partitions with communicationrelationships;

FIG. 100 illustrates coordination of presentation with a value cycle;

FIG. 101 illustrates coordinated fan-in cycle structure in a pure valueexpression;

FIG. 102 illustrates coordinated fan-out cycle structure in a pure valueexpression;

FIG. 103 illustrates pure value cycle coordination integrated withfunctions;

FIG. 104 illustrates partitioned pure value expression;

FIG. 105 illustrates cycle structure overlaying pure value partitioningstructure;

FIG. 106 illustrates reusing value in partitioned pure valueexpressions;

FIG. 107 illustrates graphical representation of pipeline stages;

FIG. 108 illustrates wavefront delay with differential pipelinepopulations;

FIG. 109 illustrates a pipeline ring;

FIG. 110 illustrates two rings coupled through a shared cycle;

FIG. 111 illustrates a ring coupled with a pipeline through a sharedcycle;

FIG. 112 illustrates a pipeline expression using two forms of pipelinememory;

FIG. 113 illustrates pure association version of expression of FIG. 112;

FIG. 114 illustrates appreciating patterns of recognition through time;

FIG. 115 illustrates appreciating patterns of behavior through time;

FIG. 116 illustrates pure association expression of dynamic behaviormapping;

FIG. 117 illustrates mapping each recognition to common behaviors;

FIG. 118 illustrates mapping each recognition to individual behaviors;

FIG. 119 illustrates a pure association expression behavior memory;

FIG. 120 illustrates association expression can search by alteringassociation relationships;

FIG. 121 illustrates association expression of binary full-adder;

FIG. 122 illustrates association expression extended to strict sequencethrough time;

FIG. 123 illustrates binary full-adder extended in time with pipelinefeedback paths;

FIG. 124 illustrates fan-in fan-out command sequences for feedbackfull-adder;

FIG. 125 illustrates command rings attached to fan-in and fan-outstructures of the OR gate;

FIG. 126 illustrates redrawn full-adder showing bounded feedback paths;

FIG. 127 illustrates feedback network with merged steering structures;

FIG. 128 illustrates merged feedback network steering commands;

FIG. 129 illustrates full-adder with operator steering structures;

FIG. 130 illustrates merged command sequences with operator steeringcommands;

FIG. 131 illustrates full-adder redrawn with straight through pipelinesand merged command ring;

FIG. 132 illustrates commands combined into a single sequence and mappedto preassigned place names;

FIG. 133 illustrates coupled rings of the eagle expression;

FIG. 134 illustrates source to destination association expressions;

FIG. 135 illustrates daisy chaining associations;

FIG. 136 illustrates the invocation syntax and external associations;

FIG. 137 illustrates the definition syntax and internal associations;

FIG. 138 illustrates the syntactic association of invocation to thedefinition;

FIG. 139 illustrates structure of language example;

FIG. 140 illustrates Boolean binary full-adder in terms of twohalf-adders;

FIG. 141 illustrates input associations of the definition;

FIG. 142 illustrates associations within the resolution expression;

FIG. 143 illustrates full-adder with more expressive functions;

FIG. 144 illustrates full-adder with binary correspondence names;

FIG. 145 illustrates mapping association;

FIG. 146 illustrates mapping an interaction expression;

FIG. 147 illustrates resolution progression of pure value expression;

FIG. 148 illustrates pure association expression of full-adder;

FIG. 149 illustrates NCL mappings of Boolean OR function;

FIG. 150 illustrates an optimal version of pure association full-adder;

FIG. 151 illustrates four-bit adder with hierarchical boundaries;

FIG. 152 illustrates completeness boundaries of the invocation withcontent flow;

FIG. 153 illustrates completeness coordination protocol betweenexpressions;

FIG. 154 illustrates completeness coordination protocol within anexpression;

FIG. 155 illustrates four-phase handshake protocol;

FIG. 156 illustrates protocol behavior of interlinked cycles;

FIG. 157 illustrates completeness boundaries of invocation withacknowledge flow;

FIG. 158 illustrates four-bit adder mapped to a clocked autonomousexpression;

FIG. 159 illustrates pure association minterm expressions;

FIG. 160 illustrates the expression of very large differentness domains;

FIG. 161 illustrates experience memory;

FIG. 162 illustrates Euclid's greatest common divisor algorithm;

FIG. 163 illustrates Greatest Common Divisor association structure;

FIG. 164 illustrates bit sequence detector state machine;

FIG. 165 illustrates structure of stoplight control expression;

FIG. 166 illustrates Linear Feedback Shift Register;

FIG. 167 illustrates 2NCLcycles and Petri net cycles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes ofillustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention onlyand are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be themost useful and readily understood description of the principles andconceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attemptis made to show structural details of the present invention in moredetail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of thepresent invention, the description taken with the drawings makingapparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of thepresent invention may be embodied in practice.

1 A Critical Review of the Notion of the Algorithm in Computer Science

Computer science inherited its present conceptual foundations from abranch of pure mathematics that, historically, had been exploring thefundamental nature of mathematical computation since before the turn ofthe century. It is argued that the conceptual concerns of computerscience are quite different from the conceptual concerns of mathematics,and that this mathematical legacy, in particular the notion of thealgorithm, has been largely ineffective as a paradigm for computerscience. It is first necessary to understand the role of the algorithmin mathematics.

1.1 The Notion of the Algorithm in Mathematics

The notion of the algorithm is fundamental to mathematics. To understandthe significance of the algorithm to mathematics it is necessary tounderstand the history of its development. The term itself derives fromthe name of an important ninth century Persian mathematician, Mohammedibn Musa al-Khowarizmi, who in about AD 825 A.D., wrote a small bookdescribing how to calculate with a new ten symbol, positional valuenumber system developed in India. It described simple procedures forcarrying out addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in thenew system. Around 1120 this small book was translated into Latin underthe title Liber Algorismi de numero Indorum (The Book of al-Khowarizmion the Hindu number system). This translation was widely distributed andintroduced the Hindu-Arabic number system to Europe. By the midthirteenth century al-Khowarizmi had been largely forgotten and the termalgorism (Latin for al-Kowarizmi's book) came generally to refer tocomputation in the new number system. At this time an algorism was anybook related to the subject. The algorisms were the four arithmeticoperations. An algorist was one who calculated in the new number systemas opposed to an abacist who used an abacus. By 1500 the algorists hadprevailed and the abacists had largely disappeared from Europe.

These algorisms were strictly mechanical procedures to manipulatesymbols. They could be carried out by an ignorant person mechanicallyfollowing simple rules, with no understanding of the theory ofoperation, requiring no cleverness and resulting in a correct answer.The same procedures are taught to grade school children today. Computingwith Roman numerals, on the other, hand required considerable skill andingenuity. There also existed at this time other examples of mechanicalformulation such as Euclid's method to find the greatest commondenominator of two numbers. The fact that dumb mechanical manipulationscould produce significant and subtle computational results fascinatedthe medieval mathematicians. They wondered if it was possible that thewhole of mathematics or even all of human knowledge could bemechanically formulated and calculated with simple rules of symbolmanipulation.

Gotftried Leibniz attempted just such a formulation in the 1660s withhis calculus ratiocinator or characteristica universalis. The object wasto “enable the truths of any science, when formulated in the universallanguage, to be computed by arithmetical operations” [1]. Arithmeticalhere refers to the algorisms. Insight, ingenuity and imagination wouldno longer be required in mathematics or science. Leibniz did not succeedand the idea lay fallow for two hundred years.

During this period Euclidian geometry, with its axioms and rules ofreasoning from the simple to the complex continued to reign as thefundamental paradigm of mathematics. In the 1680s, after the inventionof analytical geometry and after he had made new discoveries with hisown invention of his fluxional calculus, Sir Issac Newton was careful tocast all the mathematical demonstrations in his presentation of thesenew discoveries in Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica inclassical Euclidian geometry. A symbolic analytical presentation wouldneither have been understood nor accepted by his contemporaries.Geometry, which dealt with relationships among points, lines andsurfaces, was intuitive, obvious and real. Algebra, which deals witharbitrary symbols related by arbitrary rules did not relate to anyspecific reality. While algebra was practical and useful, it was notconsidered fit territory for fundamental theoretical consideration. Lateinto the nineteenth century symbolic computation was distrusted anddiscounted. This attitude is exemplified by a nineteenth centuryastronomer who remarked that he had not the “smallest confidence in anyresult which is essentially obtained by the use of imaginary symbols”[2].

The dream of formalizing thought in terms of mechanical manipulation ofsymbols reemerged with the symbolic logic of George Boole presented inhis book Laws of Thought in 1854. Boole argued persuasively that logicshould be a part of mathematics as opposed to its traditional role as apart of philosophy. Gottlob Frege went several steps further andsuggested that not only should logic be a part of mathematics but thatmathematics should be founded on logic and he began a program to deriveall of mathematics in terms of logic.

Meanwhile the paradigmatic edifice of Euclidian geometry was beginningto show cracks with the discovery of non Euclidian geometries that wereinternally consistent and therefore were just as valid mathematicalsystems as Euclidian geometry. Symbolic computation achievedparadigmatic preeminence with the publication in 1899 of David Hilbert'scharacterization of Euclidian geometry in terms of algebra, Grundlagender Geometrie (Foundations of Geometry), which emphasized the undefinednature of the axioms. “One must be able to say at all times—instead ofpoints, straight lines and planes—tables, chairs and beer mugs” [3].Euclidian geometry was after all just one of many possible axiomaticsymbolic computation systems.

As the twentieth century dawned, symbolic computation had beenestablished as the arena of mathematical theorizing and logicalaxiomatic systems provided the rules of the game. The mathematicianswere hot on the trail of settling the game once and for all. They seemedto be on the verge of fulfilling Leibniz's dream of the universalsymbolic language that would proffer absolute certainty and truth. Thequest was led by Hilbert who outlined a program to settle once and forall the foundational issues of mathematics. The program focused on theresolution of three questions:

1. Was mathematics complete in the sense that every statement could beproved or disproved?

2. Was mathematics consistent in the sense that no statement could beproved both true and false?

3. Was mathematics decidable in the sense that there existed a definitemethod to determine the truth or falsity of any mathematical statement?[4]

The definite method of decidability in question 3 was the modernincarnation of Leibniz's arithmetical operations on his universalsymbolic language. Mechanical symbol manipulation reemerges at the veryfoundations of theoretical mathematics.

Hilbert firmly believed that the answer to all three questions was yes,and the program was simply one of tidying up loose ends. Hilbert wasconvinced that an unsolvable mathematical problem did not exist, “everymathematical problem must necessarily be susceptible to an exactstatement, either in the form of an actual answer to the question asked,or by the proof of the impossibility of its solution”[5].

In 1931 Kurt Godel demonstrated that any axiom system expressive enoughto contain arithmetic could not be both complete and consistent in theterms of the axiom system. This result was the death knell for Hilbert'sprogram. The answers to the first two questions were no. There remainedthe question of decidability, the Entscheidungsproblem, as Hilbert namedit: the definite method of solving a mathematical problem. After Godelproved that unsolvable problems (unprovable theorems) could exist in anaxiom system, the decidability problem became a search for a definitemethod to determine if a given problem was solvable or unsolvable in agiven axiom system.

The decidability problem appealed directly to the notion of a definitemethod, which was also referred to as an effective procedure or amechanical procedure. This notion had always been fundamental tomathematics but had been intuitively accepted and had not been a subjectof investigation itself. One knows an effective procedure when one seesone. But to demonstrate something about the nature of effectiveprocedures there must be a precise characterization of what constitutesan effective procedure.

Hilbert made it clear what constituted an acceptable mathematicalsolution in his 1900 paper posing 23 problems that he consideredimportant to the future of mathematics:

“that it shall be possible to establish the correctness of a solution bymeans of a finite number of steps based upon a finite number ofhypotheses which are implied in the statement of the problem and whichmust always be exactly formulated.” [5]

Satisfactorily characterizing this notion of effective or mechanicalprocedure became an important foundational issue in mathematics andseveral mathematicians applied themselves to the problem. Among themwere Jacques Herbrand and Godel, Emil Post, Alan Turing, Alonzo Churchand A. A. Markov. Each had a different characterization of effectivecomputability, but all were shown later to be logically equivalent. In1936 both Church with his lambda calculus and Turing with his machineproved that no effective procedure existed to determine the provabilityor unprovability of a given mathematical problem. The answer to Hilbertsthird question was also no. Leibniz's calculus ratiocinator with itsarithmetical resolution of all questions proved to be not possible.Ingenuity, insight and imagination could not be done away with inmathematics after all.

Despite the failure of Hilbert's program, questions of effectivecomputability have continued to be a fundamental concern ofmathematicians. Through the 1940s and 1950s Markov tried to consolidateall the work of the others on effective computability and introduced theterm algorithm with its modern meaning as a name for his own theory ofeffectively computable functions. In the translated first sentence ofhis 1954 book Teoriya Algorifmov (Theory of Algorithms) he states:

“In mathematics, “algorithm” is commonly understood to be an exactprescription, defining a computational process, leading from variousinitial data to the desired result.” [6]

The term algorithm was not, apparently, a commonly used mathematicalterm in America or Europe before Markov, a Russian, introduced it. Noneof the other investigators, Herbrand and Godel, Post, Turing or Churchused the term. The term, however, caught on very quickly in thecomputing community. In 1958 a new programming language was named ALGOL(ALGOrithmic Language). In 1960 a new department of the Communicationsof the ACM was introduced called “Algorithms” [7].

Historically the algorithm was developed to investigate the foundationsof mathematics and it has evolved in relation to the needs ofmathematicians. The notion of the algorithm in mathematics is a limitingdefinition of what constitutes an acceptable solution to a mathematicalproblem. It establishes the ground rules of mathematics.

1.2 The Advent of Computers

The electronic digital computer emerged in 1945. It computed one step ata time, was by practical necessity limited to a finite number of stepsand was limited to a finite number of exactly formulated hypotheses(instructions). The electronic digital computer was an incarnation ofthe mathematician's effective solution procedure. The mathematicians,being intimately involved with the creation of the computer, havingstudied mechanical computation for half a century, and having in hand anexplicitly mechanical model of computation in the Turing machine, quitereasonably became the de facto theorists for this new phenomenon. One ofthese mathematicians, John Von Neumann, was a student of Hilbert's and asignificant contributor to his program to resolve the foundations ofmathematics. Another was of course Turing himself. The relatedmathematical concepts along with the notion of the algorithm weretransplanted into the fledgling science of computers.

The notion of the algorithm has become accepted as a fundamentalparadigm of computer science.

“The notion of the algorithm is basic to all computer programming . . .” [8]

“One of the concepts most central to computer science is that of analgorithm.” [9]

To appreciate the role of the notion of the algorithm in computerscience it is necessary first to characterize computer science.

1.3 Computer Science

Many attempts have been made to define computer science[10][11][12][13][14]. All of these definitions view computer science asa heterogeneous group of disciplines related to the creation, use andstudy of computers. A typical definition simply offers a list ofincluded topics: computability, complexity, algorithm theory, automatatheory, programming, high level languages, machine languages,architecture, circuit design, switching theory, system organization,numerical mathematics, artificial intelligence, other applications, andso forth. The most recent and comprehensive survey of the attempts todefine computer science is an article in the Annals of the History ofComputing [15].

Computer science appears to consist of a quite disparate collection ofdisciplines, but there is a common thread of conceptual focus runningthrough the various disciplines of computer science. All of thedisciplines that are included under the heading of computer science inany list are concerned in one way or another with the creation of oractualization of process expressions. A logic circuit is an expressionof a logical process. An architecture is an expression of a continuouslyacting process to interpret symbolically expressed processes. A programis a symbolic expression of a process. A programming language is anenvironment within which to create symbolic process expressions. Acompiler is an expression of a process that translates between symbolicprocess expressions in different languages. An operating system is anexpression of a process that manages the interpretation of other processexpressions. Any application is an expression of the applicationprocess.

Computer science can be viewed as primarily concerned with questionsabout the expression of processes and the actualization of thoseexpressions. What are all the possible ways a process can be expressed?Are some expressions superior in any sense to other expressions? Whatare all the possible ways of actualizing an expression. Are there commonconceptual elements underlying all expressions? What is the bestprogramming language? How can the best program be formulated? How canthe best architecture be built? What is the best implementationenvironment? These are the questions that occupy computer scientists andthey all revolve around the nature of process expression.

Mathematicians, on the other hand, are primarily interested in exploringthe behavior of specific processes or classes of process. They bypassgeneral problems of expression by appealing to a very formal andminimalized model of expression, the algorithm as characterized by theTuring machine. They are only interested in whether an expression ispossible and whether it conforms to certain specific properties. Themathematicians consider the process as independent of its expression. Aprocess may be expressed in any convenient language and executed on anyconvenient machine including a human with a pencil.

Mathematics is primarily concerned with the nature of the behavior ofprocess independent of how that process is expressed:

the nature of a process is considered independent of its expression.

Computer science is primarily concerned with the nature of theexpression of processes regardless of what particular process might beexpressed:

the nature of expression is considered independent of its process.

There is much overlap between the interests of computer science andmathematics, but this core concern with the nature of process expressionitself is the unique conceptual focus that distinguishes computerscience from the other sciences and from mathematics. Computer scienceis the science of process expression.

1.4 The Algorithm in Computer Science

Introductory texts on computer science often begin with a chapter on thenotion of the algorithm declaring it the fundamental paradigm ofcomputer science. Conspicuously absent from these introductory chaptersis discussion of how the notion contributes to the resolution ofsignificant problems of computer science. In the remaining chapters ofthese texts there is typically no further appeal to the notion of thealgorithm and rarely even a usage of the word itself. The notion isnever or very rarely appealed to in texts on logic design, computerarchitecture, operating systems, programming, software engineering,programming languages, compilers, data structures and data base systems.

The notion of the algorithm is typically defined by simply presenting alist of properties that an expression must posses to qualify as analgorithm. The following definition of an algorithm is typical:

-   -   1. An algorithm must be a step-by-step sequence of operations.    -   2. Each operation must be precisely defined.    -   3. An algorithm must terminate in a finite number of steps,    -   4. An algorithm must effectively yield a correct solution,    -   5. An algorithm must be deterministic in that given the same        input it will always yield the same solution.

This is pretty much what Hilbert proposed in 1900 and it is easy to seehow this list of restrictive characteristics serves to define what isacceptable as a mathematical solution. But what conceptual service doesthe notion of the algorithm perform for computer science?

The notion of the algorithm demarcates all expressions into algorithmand non-algorithm but what purpose does it serve to know that oneprogram is an acceptable mathematical solution and another is not? Isthe expression of one fundamentally different from the expression of theother? Is one interpreted differently from the other? Are algorithmsfirst class citizens in some sense and nonalgorithms second classcitizens? Does determining whether or not a given expression is anacceptable mathematical solution aid in building better computer systemsor in writing better programs?

Important process expressions do not qualify as algorithms. A logiccircuit is not a sequence of operations. An operating system is notsupposed to terminate, nor does it yield a singular solution. Anoperating system cannot be deterministic because it must relate touncoordinated inputs from the outside world. Any program utilizingrandom input to carry out its process, such as a Monte Carlo simulationor fuzzy logic simulation is not an algorithm. No program with a bug canbe an algorithm and it is generally accepted that no significant programcan be demonstrated to be bug free. Programs and computers that utilizeconcurrency where many operations are carried out simultaneously cannotbe considered algorithms. What does it mean when a sequential programqualifying as an algorithm is parallelized by a vectorizing compiler,and no longer qualifies as an algorithm.

While a digital computer appears to be an algorithmic machine, It isconstructed of nonalgorithmic parts (logic circuits) and a great deal ofwhat it actually does is nonalgorithmic. These difficulties with thenotion of the algorithm have not gone unnoticed and a variety ofpiecemeal amendments, revisions and redefinitions have been proposed:

-   -   “ . . . there is an extension of the notion of algorithm (called        nondeterministic algorithm).” [11] p. 16    -   “Any computer program is at least a semi-algorithm and any        program that always halts is an algorithm.” [16]    -   “There is another word for algorithm which obeys all of the        above properties except termination and that is computational        procedure.”[17]    -   “An algorithm A is a probabilistically good algorithm if the        algorithm “almost always” generates either an exact solution or        a solution with a value that is “exceedingly close” to the value        of the optimal solution.” [18]    -   “The procedure becomes an algorithm if the Turing machine always        halts”. [19]    -   “By admitting probabilistic procedures in algorithms . . . ”        [20]    -   “ . . . if, after executing some step, the control logic shifts        to another step of the algorithm as dictated by a random device        (for example, coin tossing), we call the algorithm random        algorithm.” [21]    -   “An algorithm which is based on such convergence tests is called        an infinite algorithm.” [21]    -   “Algorithms that are not direct are called indirect.” [22] p. 47    -   “We drop the requirement that the algorithm stop and consider        infinite algorithms”. [22] p. 49]

These authors have sensed an inappropriate conceptual discrimination orsimply an incompleteness and proposed a remedy. Programs that do notterminate, are not deterministic and do not give specific solutions cannow be “included.” They are no longer simply nonalgorithmic, they nowhave positive labels, but simply assigning labels to nonalgorithmsmisses the point. The point is that algorithm-nonalgorithm is not aconceptual distinction that contributes to an understanding of processexpression.

As a paradigm of process expression, the notion of the algorithm isdecidedly deficient. It offers no suggestion as to how an operationmight be precisely defined. Nor does it suggest how a sequence should bedetermined. Data is not even mentioned. The definition simply statesthat an algorithm must consist of a sequence of precisely definedoperations. This unsupported imperative is at once an admission ofexpressional incompleteness and a refusal to be complete. The otheralgorithmic properties of termination, correctness and determination,while important to issues of computation, are quite irrelevant to issuesof process expression.

The notion of the algorithm simply does not provide conceptualenlightenment for the questions that most computer scientists areconcerned with.

1.5 Conclusion

What is essentially a discipline of pure mathematics has come to becalled “the theory of computer science,” and the notion of the algorithmhas been decreed to be a fundamental paradigm of computer science. Themathematical perspective, however, is the wrong point of view. It isasking the wrong questions. Mathematicians and computer scientists arepursuing fundamentally different aims and the mathematicians tools arenot as appropriate as was once supposed to the questions of the computerscientist. The primary questions of computer science are not ofcomputational possibilities but of expressional possibilities. Computerscience does not need a theory of computation, it needs a comprehensivetheory of process expression.

2 The Simplicity of Concurrency

he expression of sequentiality is generally considered to be simple andreliable whereas the expression of concurrency is perceived to becomplex and nondeterministic. Sequentiality is accepted as a primitiveform of expression and concurrency is characterized in terms ofsequentiality. It is argued here that the perception of the simplicityof sequentiality and the complexity of concurrency is an artifact of aparticular conceptual view; it is not unlike the perceived impossibilityof traveling to the moon while thinking in terms of cycles and epicyclesin crystalline spheres.

The difficulty lies in the notion of the mathematical function, which isa simple mapping relation with no expression of coordination behaviorwith other functions. The expressivity of coordination traditionallyresides in a mathematician with a pencil. In the absence of amathematician, the uncoordinated behavior of a system of functions, isnondeterministic.

The coordination expression of the missing mathematician can be restoredin two different ways that lead to radically different views of processexpression. In one view, which sequentiality is simple and primitive andconcurrency is a complex and risky derivative of sequentiality and inthe other view concurrency is simple and primitive and sequentiality isa complex and risky special case of concurrency.

2.1 The Primacy of Sequentiality

For a number of seemingly good conceptual and practical reasonssequentiality is considered to be a fundamental primitive form ofprocess expression. A strong conceptual motivation for sequentialitycomes from the theory of computer science adopted from the theory ofmathematics. The notion of the algorithm characterizes a computationalprocess as a strict sequence of precisely defined operations. From themathematicians point of view, any concurrent expression (a partialordering) can be reduced to a sequential expression (a total ordering).Sequential expression is a sufficient theoretical primitive so there isno theoretical necessity to consider concurrency on its own terms.Sequentiality appears to reside at a reductive conceptual bottom.

There are practical motivations. A transistor can only do one thing at atime in sequence. There is the convenience of generally configuring asystem by using a single element over and over in sequence. There is thesense that humans seem to think, intellectually at least, in astep-by-step manner. There is the unprecedented success at building andusing sequential computing machines.

But most influential is that concurrency appears to be complex, evennondeterministic and chaotic, like a hydra-headed beast that must bewrestled into submission. Sequential expression, by contrast, seemssimple, straightforward and tractable. It only makes good sense toappeal to the simplicity of sequentiality to tame the complexity ofconcurrency.

Accordingly, sequentiality is regarded as a primitive form of processexpression and concurrency is characterized in terms of sequentiality ascooperating sequential processes[5], communicating sequentialprocesses[3], interleaved sequential processes[2] and so on.

2.2 The Complexity of Concurrency

The complexity of concurrency manifests itself in a number of forms thatall relate to unruly behavior. It just seems obvious that controlling agaggle of multiple events all at once should be more difficult thancontrolling one thing at a time in sequence.

2.2.1 The Demon of Indeterminacy

-   -   “The introduction of concurrency into computation opens        Pandora's box to release the possibility of non determinacy and        a host of other complications, including deadlock and livelock .        . . . Events within concurrent systems do not necessarily occur        at predetermined times, but may occur in different orders        depending upon the relative speeds of different system parts.        The usual assumption, which is also physically realistic, is        that relative speeds cannot be controlled so precisely that the        designer or programmer can depend upon them to enforce        sequencing requirements.[8]

Events can occur in different orders depending on the relative speeds ofdifferent system parts. The speeds of the parts cannot be controlled toavoid the different orderings and most of the possible differentorderings do not result in a correct answer.

-   -   “Unfortunately, asynchronous circuits are difficult to design        because they are concurrent systems. When trying to understand a        synchronous circuit, it is possible to pretend that events occur        in lock-step. Variations in the speeds of functional elements        can be ignored, since the clock is timed to allow for the        worst-case delays. the lock-step model does not work for        speed-independent designs—a correct design must exhibit proper        behavior no matter what the speeds of its components. When        several components are operating concurrently, there may be a        very large number of possible execution paths, each        corresponding to a different set of delays in the components.        Non determinism resulting from unknown or varying delays is the        essential problem in all concurrent systems. For a property to        hold for a concurrent system it must hold for every possible        execution.”[1]

By “must hold for every possible execution” it is meant that if all thepossible execution paths (orderings of components/events) give the samecorrect result, the problem of many different orderings can be overcome.The first step in resolving this expressional difficulty is to determineall the possible execution paths. This is called the state spaceexplosion problem.

2.2.2 The State Space Explosion

-   -   “Although the architectural freedom of asynchronous systems is a        great benefit, it also poses a difficult challenge. Because each        part sets its own pace, that pace may vary from time to time in        any one system and may vary from system to system. If several        actions are concurrent, they may finish in a large number of        possible sequences, Enumerating all the possible sequences of        actions in a complex asynchronous chip is as difficult as        predicting the sequences of actions in a schoolyard full of        children. This dilemma is called the state explosion problem.        Can chip designers create order out of the potential chaos of        concurrent actions?”[9]

The state space of the process must include all the possible states ofall the possible correct and incorrect orderings, including incorrectstates due to critical timing relationships (glitches). For a concurrentexpression of any practical size the state space that must be consideredcan become enormous.

Only after enumerating all the possible sequences (orderings ofcomponents-events-actions, execution paths) through the expanded statespace can one begin to attempt to reduce the possible sequences and tomake each execution sequence unambiguously result in a transition to thecorrect final state.

2.2.3 Elusive Confidence

Faced with such complexity of behavior it is difficult to attainconfidence in the behavior of a concurrent system

-   -   “concurrent programming is much more difficult than sequential        programming because of the difficulty of ensuring that a        concurrent program is correct.” [2]

Reliably reproducible behavior is the critical ingredient of confidence.The many possible orderings of concurrency does not contribute toconfidence.

-   -   “Our ability to test a large sequential program in small steps        depends fundamentally on the reproducible behavior of the        program.” [4]    -   “The important thing about a sequential program is that it        always gives the same results when it operates on the same data        independently of how fast it is executed. All that matters is        the sequence in which the operations are carried out.” [4]

Convenient state visibility is lost with concurrent behavior. The firstdifficulty is the state space explosion. The state space to consider isjust much larger than a sequential state space. The second difficulty isthat with concurrent events there is no reliable way to determine whenan extended state is stable and can be sampled. Even if one is able tosample the extended state, one must also be able to discern which orderof events (execution path) is in play to analyze the sampled state.

With sequentiality it is assumed that each event completes before thenext event begins. In the interval between events a stable state of thesystem can be sampled to verify the correct behavior of each event inturn. In the context of state behavior it is clearly easier to observeand trust the behavior of sequentiality than it is to observe and trustthe behavior of concurrency.

2.2.4 Confusions

If concurrent behavior is so impossibly complex, how is it possible thatanything at all is designed to reliably operate with concurrentbehavior? The natural world operates with massively concurrent behaviorsand almost every human artifact including computers operate reliablywith concurrent behaviors. The situation can't possibly be as bad as itappears.

-   -   “Having adopted this assumption of arbitrary speed, the designer        or programmer proceeds to construct systems that enforce the        sequencing that is logically necessary to the computation.        Sequencing can, for example, be enforced by such causal        mechanisms as signals, shared variables, or messages between        concurrent processes.”[8]

Since one cannot rely on timing relationships to control concurrentevents one must rely on “causal mechanisms” or, in other words, logicalrelationships to manage concurrent events. But, if concurrency can infact be managed with logical relationships, why all the agonizing abouttiming relationships? Why are time relationships considered at all? Whyis concurrency not considered purely in terms of logical relationshipsto begin with? The answers lie with the mathematical notion of thefunction.

2.3 The Roots of Apparent Complexity

A mathematical function is a mapping from an input data state to anoutput data state. Neither the expression of the mathematical functionnor the expression of the data state includes the expression of how thefunction might interact with other functions. how an instance of inputdata presented to the function might be bounded (when it begins and whenit ends) or how the result of the function might be presented andbounded (when it is valid and when it is not valid). These aspects of afunction's behavior were, historically, expressed by a mathematicianwith a pencil. The mathematician understands the proper flow of dataamong the functions and can correctly manage the behavior of eachfunction and the flow of data among functions. But when functions areobliged to behave on their own, in the absence of the mathematician, theexpression of this coordinating behavior embodied in the mathematicianis lost.

How the lost expressivity of the missing mathematician is re-establishedis the root of the confusion and the crux of the matter.

2.3.1 The Behavior of Mathematical Functions

The Boolean combinational logic expression of FIG. 1, which is a networkof concurrent or partially ordered Boolean functions, is taken as anexemplar of a concurrent system of mathematical functions. There is theexpression of each function and the expression of the partial ordering(data paths, association relationships) among the functions. There is noexpression of coordination of behavior among the functions. There is noexpression of when a function should behave and when a function shouldnot behave so the data paths and the functions must be presumed tobehave continuously.

When the inputs of a Boolean combinational expression are presented witha new instance of input data, a wavefront of stable correct resultvalues flow from the input through the network of logic functions to theoutput, but in the absence of the coordinating mathematician, datatransitions flow indiscriminately over the freely flowing paths andthrough the continuously responsive functions. As some functions andpaths are faster than others, the inputs of each function will arrive atdifferent times and cause some functions to temporarily assert anerroneous result, which will be presented to the next functions in thepath. As these temporary errors propagate and compound, a chaos ofindeterminate result values speeds ahead of the wavefront of stablecorrect results, causing the output of the Boolean expression totransition through a large number of incorrect states before thewavefront of correct result values reaches the output and the expressionstabilizes to the correct resolution of the presented input. Thisindeterminate behavior is a vivid manifestation of the chaos ofconcurrency.

One might try to avoid the indeterminate transitions by specificallyexpressing a precise propagation delay for each component, butpropagation delays, which can vary with a number of factors such as datadependencies, temperature, age and manufacturing variability, cannot bereliably expressed. The indeterminate behavior of concurrent functionscannot be avoided by managing the propagation delays of components.

Even if the indeterminate transitioning could be avoided. there wouldstill be no means to determine from the behavior of the expressionitself when the output of the expression is asserting the correctresult. If the current input happens to be identical to the previousinput, the expression exhibits no transition behavior at all, correct orincorrect.

The boundaries of data presentation and resolution, traditionallyexpressed by the mathematician, are missing in a concurrent compositionof mathematical functions. The expression of these boundaries must bere-established.

2.3.2 Re-Establishing the Expression of Boundaries

A concurrent composition of mathematical functions with a stablypresented input can be relied on to eventually settle to a stablecorrect result of the presented input. This eventual stability can becharacterized with a time interval beginning from the presentation ofinput with a duration of the propagation time of the slowest path in theexpression plus a margin to accommodate the propagation variabilities ofthe path. This time interval can be associated with memory elements atthe input and the output of the function. The memory element at theinput presents and stably maintains the input to the expression at thebeginning of the time interval. The memory element at the output of theexpression ignores the indeterminate transitions during the timeinterval and samples the correct result after the expression hasstabilized at the end of the time interval. The chaotic behavior of theconcurrent expression is isolated by the time interval and the boundingmemories.

The expressivity of the mathematician, who can easily manage the correctresolution of a partial ordering of functions, has not been fullyrecovered. Instead, the behavior of the concurrent functions is blurredinto a single timed event characterized by the time interval itself. Butenough expressivity of boundary behavior has been recaptured to be ofpractical use.

2.3.3 Composing Time Intervals

A concurrent/combinational expression, its time interval and its inputand output memory elements can now be composed with other similar unitsof expression in terms of their time intervals and by sharing theirmemory elements. If this composition contains concurrency, the sameproblem of differing and varying delays among components (in this casethe time intervals) leads to indeterminate behavior.

This second order indeterminacy can be avoided, however, if all timeintervals are identical and are in phase. The result is a strictsequencing of events in terms of a succession of identical timeintervals most conveniently expressed by a globally available intervalsignal or clock. When the clock tics, each memory element simultaneouslyreceives output from a predecessor expression and presents input to asuccessor expression establishing the boundaries of data flow throughthe expression. Between clock tics the memory elements contain thesampled state of the system.

2.3.4 The Simplicity of Sequentiality

By associating with the concurrent expression a time interval and memoryelements that mask its indeterminate behavior and that determinantlybound its data flow behavior, the uncoordinated behavior of concurrentfunctions has been rendered sufficiently coordinated. Synchronoussequentiality tames the complexities of concurrency and provides a keyto practical process expression. But, there is another way tore-establish the lost expressivity of the missing mathematician.

2.4 Symbolic Coordination

The expression of the boundaries of data presentation and theappreciation of those boundaries in the behavior of the functions can bere-established purely in terms of symbolic behaviors by enhancing thesymbolic expression of the data to express its own flow boundaries andby enhancing the symbolic expression of the function to appreciate thoseflow boundaries.

2.4.1 Symbolically Expressing Data Flow Boundaries

To the symbols representing data is added a symbol, NULL, thatexplicitly represents “not-data”. This allows two disjoint state domainsin the representation of data: “completely data” (all data symbols) and“completely not-data” (all NULL symbols). The data can now transitionmonotonically between “completely not-data” and “completely data” asillustrated in FIG. 2. The transition of the input from “completelynot-data” to “completely data” is called a data wavefront and expressesthe presentation of a new instance of input data. The transition of theinput from “completely data” to “completely not-data” is called a NULLwavefront and expresses the boundary between successive presentations ofinput data.

2.4.2 Logically Recognizing Data Flow Boundaries

A logical function can be enhanced to respond only to completenessrelationships at its inputs:

-   -   If input is “completely data,” then transition output to the        “data” resolution of input.    -   If input is “completely NULL,” then transition output to “NULL”.    -   If input is neither “completely data” nor “completely NULL,” do        not transition output.

The transition of the output implies the completeness of presentation ofthe input, the completeness of its resolution and that the assertedoutput is the correct resolution of the presented input. This is calledthe completeness criterion.

Enhanced Boolean logic operators, shown in FIG. 3, are no longermathematical functions. They now include a state-holding or hysteresisbehavior. A dash means that there is no transition. The domain inversionwill be explained later. A logic using the NULL value and state-holdingbehavior will be called a NULL Convention Logic. The logic describedhere is a 3 value NULL Convention Logic (3NCL). While this discussionwill continue in terms of 3NCL, there is also a practical 2 value NULLConvention Logic (2NCL) suitable for electronic implementation [7].

2.4.3 The Completeness Behavior of a Network of Enhanced Functions

The monotonic behavior of the data and the completeness behavior of eachenhanced function fully coordinates the order of events in a concurrentexpression. The individual completeness behaviors accumulate so that thenetwork as a whole expresses the completeness criterion. Consider thecombinational network of enhanced Boolean operators shown in FIG. 4.Divide the network arbitrarily into N ranks of operators orderedprogressively from input to output, with all inputs before the firstrank and all outputs after the last rank. The rank boundaries are shownin FIG. 4 with vertical lines labeled alphabetically in rank order frominput to output.

For the values crossing G to be all data, all of the values crossing Fmust be data.

For the values crossing F to be all data, all of the values crossing Emust be data.

For the values crossing E to be all data, all of the values crossing Dmust be data.

For the values crossing D to be all data, all of the values crossing Cmust be data.

For the values crossing C to be all data, all of the values crossing Bmust be data.

For the values crossing B to be all data, all of the values crossing Amust be data.

Therefore, for all the values after G to be data, all the values beforeA must be data. If any value before A is NULL at least one value after Gwill be NULL.

These considerations are also true for the NULL wavefront presented whenthe expression is in an “completely data” state. Simply interchange NULLand data in the text above.

When the output of the expression monotonically transitions to“completely data”, it means that the input is “completely data,” thedata wavefront has completely propagated through the expression and thedata output is the correct result of the presented input. When theoutput of a concurrent expression monotonically transitions to“completely NULL,” it means that the input is “completely NULL,” theNULL wavefront has completely propagated through the expression and theNULL output is the correct result of the presented input. The output ofthe expression as a whole expresses the completeness criterion andmaintains the monotonic behavior of the input.

It does not matter when or in what order the values transition at theinput of the expression. Nor does it matter what the delays might beinternal to the expression. Consider the shaded function in FIG. 4. Itdoes not matter how long the data values (NULL values) take to propagatethrough other operators and over signal paths to the input of the shadedfunction, its output will not transition until all values are data(NULL) at the input of the function. For each wavefront each functionsynchronizes its input and switches its output exactly once to a correctvalue coordinating the orderly propagation of a wavefront of monotonictransitions of correct result values through the concurrent expressionuntil the output of the expression as a whole is complete. The orderlysymbolic behavior of each individual function accumulates to orderlysymbolic behavior of the whole expressing the completeness criterion forthe expression as a whole.

The behavior of the expression is fully determined in terms of symbolicbehavior. There is no explicit expression of control. There is noconsideration of timing relationships anywhere in the expression. Thereare no races, no hazards and no spurious result values. There is nonondeterministic behavior. For a given input there is only one possibleordering of operators, one possible path through the state space. Thereis no state space explosion. The behavior of the expression isdeterministic, is repeatable, is testable and is trustable.

-   -   The complexities of concurrency have vanished.

The expression is complete in itself and behaves deterministically onits own terms. No supplementary expression such as a time interval, amemory, a sequence controller or a mathematician is required.

2.4.4 A New Symbolic Primitivity

The representation of data is no longer just data symbols. It includeswhat is essentially a syntax symbol, NULL, that separates successivepresentations of input data. The operators are no longer mathematicalfunctions. They maintain state. But they maintain state in a veryspecific way that relates to and propagates the monotonic completenessbehavior of the data.

With these new primitivities the expressivity of the mathematician hasbeen effectively integrated into the symbolic expression of the data andthe functions. There is no compromise. The expression behaves exactly asif a mathematician had managed its behavior.

2.4.5 Ignoring NULL

Enhanced functions vary in their behavior only for a data wavefront. TheNULL wavefront behavior is identical and universal for all enhancedfunctions. Presented with a NULL wavefront, the enhanced functions ofany network will all transition to NULL. So, when expressing aconcurrent expression, the NULL wavefront behavior can be ignored andonly the behavior of the data wavefront has to be explicitly expressed.The coordinating completeness behavior of the enhanced functions is alsoidentical and universal and need not be explicitly expressed.

Given an expression in terms of mathematical functions as in FIG. 5, themathematical functions can be directly substituted with enhancedfunctions as in FIG. 5 creating a deterministically behaving symbolicexpression. One can continue composing solely in terms of mathematicalfunctions just as has always. An expression with enhanced functions canbe automatically generated from an expression of mathematical functions.

One can compose concurrent networks of functions with confidence thatthe concurrent behaviors will properly coordinate without explicitlyexpressing any of the details of the coordination, just like expressinga sequence of operations with the confidence that the sequence will beproperly coordinated without explicitly expressing any of the details ofcoordinating the sequence.

2.5 Coordinating Concurrent Networks

The enhanced functions of a network will coordinate their behavior amongthemselves, endowing the network with completeness criterion behavior.Networks can coordinate among themselves in terms of this completenessbehavior.

2.5.1 The Self Coordinating Network

The completeness of the output of a network can be collected andexpressed by asserting a single NULL value for complete NULL and asingle data value for complete data. This completeness value can bedomain inverted and become an acknowledge value fed back to the input ofthe network. The domain inversion function, inverts a data value to aNULL value and inverts a NULL value to a chosen data value, in this caseT.

The acknowledge signal can then regulate the presentation of input tothe network, as shown in FIG. 6 with the input regulator logic, which isa rank of enhanced AND functions. When the acknowledge value is data, itwill allow a data wavefront to pass the input regulator. As long as theacknowledge value remains data the data wavefront will be stablymaintained by the input regulator even if the data inputs to the ANDfunctions transition to NULL. When the acknowledge value becomes NULL, aNULL wavefront will be allowed to pass. As long as the acknowledge valueremains NULL, the NULL wavefront will be stably maintained by the rankof enhanced AND functions even if the data inputs to the AND functionstransition to data. The acknowledge value and the input regulatorregulates the orderly presentation of alternating data and NULLwavefronts to the concurrent expression.

The closed expression formed by the acknowledge path is called a cycle.By virtue of the domain inversion a cycle is an oscillator whichspontaneously transitions (oscillates) between completely data andcompletely NULL.

2.5.2 Composing Cycles

Cycles can be coupled by interlinking the cycles as in FIG. 7. Thecompletion detection of a presenting cycle is placed after the inputregulation of a receiving cycle.

While an acknowledge value is data the input regulator will allow a datawavefront from the presenting network to pass and will stably present itto its own receiving network. The presenting network will not receiveits own acknowledge until the acknowledge value of the receiving networktransitions to data allowing the data wavefront to pass the inputregulator and be presented to the output completeness logic for thepresenting network. An acknowledge signal says:

The data wavefront has been received. I can accept a NULL wavefront now.

The NULL wavefront has been received. I can accept a data wavefront now.

Each network maintains its output wavefront until the wavefront isaccepted and maintained by its receiving networks. Alternating data andNULL wavefronts spontaneously propagate from cycle to cycle. Complexspontaneously flowing pipeline structures can be composed of coupledcycles. A fuller discussion of composing cycles into complexautonomously behaving pipeline systems can be found in [7].

2.6 Partitioning a Concurrent Network

Indefinitely large networks of enhanced functions can be composed thatexpress the completeness criterion. Since any network of enhancedfunctions expresses the completeness criterion, any subnetwork expressesthe completeness criterion. The result is a nested hierarchy ofboundaries. The expression within each boundary expresses thecompleteness criterion and can support cycle coordination. FIG. 8 showsa network of four full-adders, composed to express a four-bit adder andits nested hierarchy of boundaries.

FIG. 9 shows cycle coordination applied at the boundary of the four-bitadder with the coupled portions of presenting and receiving cycles.

2.6.1 Hierarchical Partitioning

FIG. 10 shows the four-bit adder partitioned with cycle coordination atthe boundaries of the full-adders. The four-bit adder is now a pipelineof four full-adders. FIG. 10 shows the four-bit adder partitioned withcycle coordination at the boundaries of the enhanced functions. Thefour-bit adder is now a fairly complex structure of pipelined functions.In each case the expression of the four bit adder network remainsconstant. The cycle coordination can be automatically added at anyspecified hierarchical boundary level.

The method extends to all levels of expression. A large complex networkof functions can be hierarchically partitioned and mapped into differingimplementation environments such as hardware, instruction set, firmware,software and scriptware. These partitions can be coordinated withwhatever protocol is conveniently available at each hierarchical level.The lowest levels might be coordinated with time intervals and a clockor with the NULL convention and cycles. Higher levels might use sequencecontrol, semaphores message passing or communication channels.

The most abstract level is no different from the most primitive functionlevel. Each level is represented as a network of expressions that knowwhen they are done and when they are ready and that are coordinated withinterlinked completeness protocols.

2.6.2 Lateral Partitioning

The network can also be laterally partitioned within a particularhierarchical level. A network below a low-level hierarchical boundarymight be laterally partitioned into a set of common subnetworks whichbecome an instruction set for that level of the expression. A higherlevel partitioning into common subnetworks might result in a subroutinelibrary. A network as whole might be partitioned into subnetworks ofminimal dependency relationships which become threads of the process.

FIG. 11 shows the four-bit adder laterally partitioned at the boundariesof the full-adders, which are mapped to separate sequential threadsresiding in different cores which are coordinated with a message passingprotocol.

The multi-thread sequential expression can be “compiled” directly fromthe network of functions. An expression of a concurrent network offunctions can be easily mapped into any available concurrent orsequential implementation. Express once, partition and map forever.

2.6.3 The Simplicity of Concurrency

Now that it is understood that any concurrent network of functions canbehave deterministically and reliably, the complexities of concurrency,the non-deterministic behavior, the races and hazards, the state spaceexplosion, the elusive confidence and the subtleties of coordinatingmultiple sequential programs, have all vanished.

Given the network of functions and specified completeness boundaries,the network can be partitioned hierarchically into differentimplementation regimes and coordination protocols such as hardware,firmware and software. It can also be partitioned laterally into coupledcycles forming spontaneously behaving pipeline structures or intomulti-threaded sequences of operations.

With the NULL convention and the enhanced functions the expression ofconcurrent behavior appears to be as simple as the expression ofstrictly sequential behavior. But is sequential expression actually thatsimple?

2.7 The Complexity of Sequentiality

Glimpsing the simplicity of concurrency reveals the inherent complexityof sequentiality.

2.7.1 The Unavoidable Partial Ordering

A sequence is a mapping from a concuren partially ordered expression. Itcannot be any other way. The partially ordering of the flow of dataamong the functions is simple and direct and expresses the necessary andinherent structure of a process. Understanding and expressing thepartial ordering cannot be avoided.

A programmer typically starts a programming task by scribbling flowgraphs in a notebook. The programmer then translates these partiallyordered graphs into a sequence of operations. Getting the sequence rightis not the important thing. The important thing is getting the partialordering relationships right within the sequence. The partial orderingof the dependency relationships is the referent for the correctness of asequence. There are many possible correct sequences that express a givenprocess and every one of them must conform to the same partial ordering:the same expression of concurrency.

2.7.2 The Variety of Sequence

FIG. 12 shows a labeled partial ordered expression. In mapping thepartial order to a sequence A and B can occur in any order before D. Eand F can occur in any order before H and after D. G must occur after Dand before I. I can occur anyplace after G and C. C can occur anyplacebefore I. There are an enormous number of possible correct sequences.With such variety of correctness it can be difficult to be confident ofthe correctness of a specific sequence and even more difficult toreliably perceive incorrectness.

2.7.3 The Irreversibility of Sequence

Once an expression is sequentialized, it can be difficult to recover thepartial ordering. While any expression of partially ordered concurrenc,can be easily translated to a totally ordered sequence, the reverse isnot the case. The variety of sequence and ambiguities of memory mappingcan obscure the partial ordering relationships. A compiler employssophisticated algorithms to recover the partial ordering relationshipsfrom a sequential expression with only limited success. But, why, onemight well ask, is a compiler trying to recover the partial orderrelationships?

The programmer roughs out the partial order dependency relationships ofthe process, and then translates these relationships into a sequence ofoperations. The programmer next presents the sequence to a compiler thatattempts to generate the partial order dependency graph from thepresented sequence so that it can attempt to reorder the sequence thatthe programmer gave it into a sequence that is more efficient for thetarget machine. The machine then puts a great effort into figuring outhow to execute the instructions out of order so that multipleinstructions can be executed concurrently. Why doesn't the programmerjust give the compiler the partial order dependency graph?

While there are many compelling practical reasons to build sequentialmachines, there is no reason whatever to write sequential programs forthese machines. A program should be a specification of the dependencyrelationships and the coordination boundaries. More than that is notnecessary. Such an expression can be automatically partitioned andmapped into a sequence of instructions and memory references for anysequential machine. Since the invention of the compiler it has not beennecessary for humans to write sequential programs.

2.7.4 The Necessary Expression of Memory

When a partial ordering is mapped into a sequence, an explicitexpression of memory must be included. With concurrency expressed interms of a network of direct association relationships among continuallyinstantiated functions, data is maintained on the association paths ofthe network. There is no need to express explicit memory. A sequentialoperator is instantiated only during its turn in the sequence and cannotitself maintain its output data beyond its own instantiation. Eachresult must be shelved somewhere until its receiving operator gets itsturn in the sequence.

The flow relationships of the data and the maintenance of the dataduring its flow must be expressed indirectly in terms of locations in aseparately expressed common memory. FIG. 13 illustrates the mapping ofthe full-adder network of FIG. 12 to a sequence of operations withmemory. Operator A will store its output data in a memory location whichwill stably maintain the data until operator D gets its turn in sequenceand reads that location to get its input. Since there are many possibleorders for the sequence, there is no natural relationship betweenoperator order and order of memory reference. So the memory referencesmust be explicitly associated with each operator. Each operator insequence reads its input from memory and writes its output to memory.

Asking a human to coordinate an arbitrary mapping of addresses to anarbitrarily chosen sequence of operators invites error. Assessing thecorrectness or incorrectness of a human's arbitrary mapping andsequencing can be elusive. On the other hand, a valid mapping betweenmemory and sequence can be automatically and reliably generated from aconcurrent expression.

2.7.5 The Necessary Expression of Control

A sequence controller, shown in FIG. 14 encompassing the sequence, isnot a part of a sequential expression itself but is an extra expressionthat must be assumed by the sequential expression. A sequentialexpression cannot spontaneously flow. It has no expressional basis forthe operators to spontaneously sequence themselves by their ownbehavior. The operators must be sequenced by the behavior of a separateexpression, a controller, to instantiate and uninstantiate each operatorin turn. This explicitly controlled instantiation and uninstantiation isinherent to the notion of sequentiality. If each operation is notuninstantiated before the next operation is instantiated, there is acondition of uncoordinated concurrent behavior and possible ambiguity.

2.7.6 Sequentiality Cannot be Expressionaly Primitive

Because sequential behavior must be managed by a controller, it cannotbe expressionally primitive. The most primitive expression (the mostprimitive controller) cannot itself be a sequential expression with acontroller. It must be a form of expression more primitive thansequentiality that behaves entirely in terms of its own expressivitywithout any assistance.

2.8 Conclusion

With the traditional mathematical notion of expressing a process interms of composing functions, the behavior of the mathematician with apencil embodies a critical expressivity of the behavior of the process.The mathematician knows when data is ready to be presented to the nextfunction and when to write down each function and substitute its data.If the mathematician is not available, this expressivity of behavior islost, and on their own, the behavior of composed functions becomesindeterminate. The lost expression of behavior embodied in the missingmathematician must be restored to the behaving functions.

The expression of the mathematician's behavior can be restored in twoways. One way is to retain the notion of a mathematical function as aprimitive form and add other forms of expression such as time intervalsand explicit control properly integrated with the expression of thefunctions. The other way is to enhance the symbolic expression of thefunctions and the data to include the necessary expression ofcoordination behavior.

2.8.1 A Question of Primitivity

If one retains the notion of the mathematical function then one isconfronted with the fact that a composition of functions do not workproperly and will assert a rash of incorrect results before settling toan assertion of a correct result. If one adopts the notion of theenhanced functions, a composition of enhanced functions work properlyand transition to a correct result without any assertion of incorrectresults.

The incorrect behavior of a composition of mathematical functions can beisolated by associating a time interval with the expression. Byanalyzing the delay behavior of the components and their composite delaybehavior for a specific implementation, a time interval can be definedfor that specific implementation that extends from presentation of inputto beyond the incorrect behavior into the period of stable correctbehavior. The interval can control a memory associated with theexpression output of the expression to sample the correct result. Theindeterminate logical behavior is thus isolated by the time interval andthe memory. The expression is now in terms of logic, memory and time.The time behavior and the logical behavior have to be properlycoordinated for the expression to work correctly.

A composition of enhanced functions does not assert incorrect behaviorand there is no need to isolate its logical behavior. It remains purelyin terms of logical behavior.

The logic expression of the mathematical functions, the memory and thetime interval form a unit of expression that can be further composed interms of shared memories and shared time intervals. The shared timeintervals must be all be identical and in phase. This greatercomposition is a structure of expressions behaving synchronously inrelation to a common time interval: a clock.

An expression of enhanced functions can logically regulate its inputwith its own completeness behavior and a feedback path from its outputto its input forming a cycle. Further composition occurs in terms ofinterlinked cycles. The greater composition is a structure of cycleseach behaving purely in terms of logical relationships and thecomposition as a whole behaving purely in terms of logicalrelationships. It is a fully deterministic expression of distributedconcurrent behavior.

The clock coordinating the behavior of the mathematical functionsisolates all logical relationships. The logical relationships of theexpression are not available and have to be reconstituted in terms of anew logical expression of explicit control. The clocked greatercomposition performs one set of behaviors every interval tick. The newlevel of explicit control can only compose in terms of a sequence ofinterval tick behaviors. The incompetence of the mathematical functionshas led to explicitly controlled, strictly sequential behavior.

At some point the greater expression of enhanced functions will bereused iteratively. Continued composition might occur sequentially butit need not. The logical behaviors of the expression were never isolatedso its complete logical structure is intact and available. This logicalstructure can be partitioned in various ways to allow parallel andpipeline iterative behaviors.

Mathematical functions do not behave properly to begin with. Incorrecting the behavior of the functions, one is led through aprogression of supporting concepts to sequentiality. The coordinatingbehavior of the mathematician is only partially restored with a complexscaffolding of concepts. Enhanced functions work properly to begin,require no additional supporting concepts, and leads to distributedconcurrency. The coordination behavior of the mathematician is fullyrestored with a single simple conceptual reorientation.

2.8.2 A Labyrinth of Concepts

Mathematical functions do not work. The concepts necessary to make themwork leads to an ad hoc scaffolding of mutually supporting concepts thatis difficult to escape:

-   -   stateless mathematical function,    -   time Interval,    -   synchronicity,    -   sequentiality,    -   explicit control,    -   common memory, and    -   extended state space.

It is not possible to change one concept without conflicting withanother concept. Attempting concurrency leads to complex control and theexplosion of the state space. Attempting to avoid the time intervalleads back to the races and hazards of the functions. Abandoningsynchronicity leads to indeterminate behavior. Attempting to distributememory bumps into the arbitrary sequencing and arbitrary memory mappingof sequentiality. Attempting to avoid control leaves the sequence tofend for itself which it cannot do.

One cannot find ones way out of the labyrinth incrementally orgradually. The only way to escape the labyrinth and glimpse thesimplicity of concurrency is to change the beginning primitive concept.With enhanced functions that cooperate a set of complimentary conceptsemerge that are not necessary supporting concepts but are naturalconsequence of the fact that enhanced functions work to begin with:

-   -   state holding cooperating functions,    -   logical completeness,    -   distributed local behavior,    -   concurrency,    -   cooperation,    -   distributed content flow, and    -   logical determinism.

2.8.3 A Discord of Conceptual Views

The two primitive beginnings lead to two very different views of processexpression. There is the sequential world view and there is theconcurrent world view.

In the sequential world view concurrency is fraught with races, hazardsand indeterminate behavior. Sequentiality tames the unruly concurrentbehavior providing a well behaved, stable foundation for processexpression. It is foolish to consider reversion to primitive concurrentbehavior. The only reliable path to concurrency is through cooperatingsequential processes.

From the concurrent world view, concurrency, beginning with cooperatingprimitive functions, provides a completely logically determined, wellbehaved, stable foundation for process expression. Sequentiality is anunreliable form of expression founded on a time interval that isimplementation specific and is not precisely manageable. The manypossible correct sequences and the arbitrary memory assignments makesequentiality complex, confusing and prone to error.

2.8.4 Illusions of Difficulty

It seems obvious that controlling one event at a time in sequence mustbe simpler than controlling many events simultaneously. But that is onlyif one thinks in terms of control instead of in terms of orderlycollective behavior by virtue of orderly individual behavior.

The timing races among concurrent functions can be an intractablecoordination problem, but it seems so only if one is thinking in termsof functions incapable of coordinating their symbolic behavior withother functions. If one thinks instead in terms of functions that arecapable of coordinating among themselves, the timing issues disappear.

State space explosion is a problem only if one thinks in terms ofglobally sampled instants of an extended state space. If one can trustthe symbolic behavior, considering the behavior of a “state space” isunnecessary. The notion of an extended state space is an artifact ofsequentiality. Sequential behavior is not fully determined by itssymbolic behavior, but is determined by its symbolic behavior, itssequence control and its memory mapping. The only coherentcharacterization of sequential behavior is in terms of transitions ofits state space. Sequentiality can be defined as one atomic transitionat a time of a state space and sequential behavior can be characterizedin terms of enumerating these state space transitions.

Concurrent behavior is a composition of local state spaces behavinglocally. Attempting to combine the local spaces into a collectiveextended state space is meaningless. It is not possible to predict aninstant of samplable stability when there are no transitions occurringin the extended state space and it can be reliably sampled. Even if anextended state space is successfully sampled, it is not possible topredict what the state of the space should be at any instant. So as areferent for behavior in the context of concurrency the notion of anextended state space is useless and meaningless. Concurrent behaviorwith enhanced functions is fully determined by symbolic behavior. Onecan and must trust the symbolic behavior.

2.8.5 A Question of Philosophy

The deeper question is what is adopted as primitive and why? Any networkof concurrent behaviors can be mapped to a sequence of behaviors. Thiswould seem to imply that sequentiality is a reductive conceptual bottomand is consequently more fundamental and primitive than concurrency. Buta sequence of behaviors is not conceptually coherent. It is notsufficient in itself. It requires the assistance of a memory and of asequence controller. How can a concept be primitive that requiresassistance to fulfill its mission of primitivity?

A network of enhanced functions, on the other hand, is coherent andsufficient in itself. The spontaneous behavior of the enhanced functionsrealizes the behavior of the process. No supplemental assistance isneeded.

Computer science is at cross purposes with itself. It has adoptedconceptual foundations tailored for the aims of mathematicians but thatare not appropriate for the aims of computer science. While mathematicsis concerned with the nature of a process independent of how the processmight be expressed, computer science is concerned with the variety ofways process can be expressed independent of what process might beexpressed. However, computer science has adopted a conceptual foundationfrom mathematics designed to filter out variety of expressivity [6].What is usefully primitive for one endeavor is not necessarily what isusefully primitive for another endeavor. While mathematics purposelyavoids concurrency, computer science must embrace concurrency in itsfoundations.

3 Dehumanizing Computer Science

Humans have always been integral to the works of mathematics.Mathematicians devise symbol systems including algorithms to manipulatethe symbols. They then enliven the symbol system by manipulating itssymbols on paper according to the rules of an algorithm. While themanipulating human has been eliminated and replaced with a machine, thehumans that conceive symbol systems and the humans that engineer themanipulating machines remain in the works. However, it is possible toeliminate these humans as well.

3.1 The Humans in Computer Science

Computer science with its mathematical heritage retains humans in theworks. These humans constitute an element of arbitrarily sufficientexpressivity. If one is only interested in the nature of a symbol systemindependent of how it might be expressed then any workable expression ofa symbol system will suffice. Although appeal to arbitrarily sufficientexpressivity can be conveniently effective, if one is seeking insightinto the nature of expression itself, the presence of arbitrarilysufficient expressivity fundamentally undermines the effort.

If there is an arbitrarily sufficient interstitial mortar, then theconceptual bricks do not have to fit well. Any concepts can be cobbledtogether into an apparently universal whole that is adequatelyfunctional and that can even appear to be simple in some compellingsense. But the element of arbitrary sufficiency eliminates the necessityof the concepts fitting together and precludes the possibility ofdiscovering appropriate concepts and how they might fit. A fudged modelcannot provide insightful understanding or unifying connections. Appealto arbitrary sufficiency can reveal nothing about essential necessity.

Saying a human does it in computer science is like saying a god does itin physics. The humans in the works both enable the computer and deny ittheoretical closure. This difficulty of humans in the works isexplicitly recognized in the view of the computer as an artifact and theacceptance that computers cannot be theorized about in the same sensethat natural phenomena can be theorized about [2].

-   -   “If what the computer scientist says about computers in theory        does not agree with behavior, he or she can always change the        computer” to match the theory [1].

The essential problem is that there is no way to compare conceptualmodels. The humans in the works ensure that all models, even those withpartially characterizing or misleading concepts, will appear equallysuccessful. There is no criterion of failure, no hint of inadequacy.With the inability to theorize the only approach to understanding thesubject appears to be experience and experiment and the only approach tomanaging it appears to be imposed rationale and convention. Imposingmathematical rationale and convention seems reasonable and convenient.

But are computers and symbol systems as artifactual as supposed? Arehumans necessary to symbol systems. Symbolic computing mechanisms existin nature, particularly in biology. Computer science aspires toencompass these symbol systems. A conceptual model of nature's symbolsystems cannot have humans in the works. Can a conceptual model ofsymbolic expression be conceived that does not require humans?

3.2 Eliminating the Humans

It has long been recognized that the symbol-manipulating human might bereplaced by a machine. The development of computer science to date isall about replacing the manipulating human in the works with aspontaneously behaving machine: the computer. But there are still humansinvolved in the conception of the symbol system and in the design of themechanism. These humans are somewhat more difficult to remove.

3.2.1 The Engineering Human

The difficulty with removing the engineering human is that themanipulating human was not completely eliminated to begin with. Themanipulating human provided something more than just the enlivenment ofthe symbolic expressions. The human also provided coordination behavior.Symbolic expressions do not include the expression of coordinatingbehavior. So simply enlivening a symbolic expression with spontaneouslybehaving symbols and their interactions is not sufficient. Coordinationbehavior must also be added to the enlivened expression and this isadded by a human engineer. The difficulty is illustrated with a Booleanexpression of a full adder expressed in terms of two half adders shownin FIG. 15.

The Boolean logic expression can be enlivened by mapping the symbolicexpression to spontaneously behaving symbols and spontaneously behavingsymbol interactions (functions). When a new input state is presented tothe inputs of the Boolean combinational expression, a stable wavefrontof correct result values flows from the input through the network offunctions to the output. But since Boolean functions are continuouslyresponsive and since some functions and signal paths can be faster thanothers, invalid and indeterminate result values may speed ahead of thestable wavefront of valid results. This rushing wavefront ofindeterminacy may cause the output of the Boolean expression totransition through a large number of incorrect values before the stablewavefront of correct result values reaches the output and the expressionas a whole stabilizes to the correct resolution of the presented input.The behavior of the enlivened symbolic expression is not determinate.

This indeterminate behavior does not occur when the manipulating humanwith a pencil enlivens the expression. The human can determine when allthe input symbols are available for each function and resolve eachfunction in its proper turn. The resolution of the expression flows tocompletion with no ambiguity of behavior.

There is no way to determine, solely in terms of the behavior of theenlivened expression itself, when the stable wavefront of correctresults reaches the output. However, an enlivened expression can berelied on to eventually stabilize to a correct result state. Afterpresentation of an input, it is sufficient to wait an appropriate timeinterval, characterized by the slowest propagation path through theexpression, to ensure that the wavefront of stable result values haspropagated through the expression and that the output of the expressionhas stabilized to the correct resolution of the presented input. Thistime interval, however, is not symbolic, is implementation specific andcannot be derived from the symbolic expression. It requires theparticipation of an engineering human.

The arbitrarily expressive engineering human in the works contrives tomake the insufficiently expressive enlivened Boolean expressions work.If a Boolean logic expression cannot behave correctly on its own withoutthe assistance of a human it must be considered a conceptual failure.This circumstance can be viewed in two ways. One can assign theoreticalprimacy to Boolean logic anyway and regard this circumstance as showingthat humans are necessary and cannot be eliminated from the works ofsymbolic expression. Or one can search for a model that works on its ownsymbolic terms without human assistance.

3.2.2 Eliminating the Human Engineer

The Boolean logic expression of the full-adder can be symbolicallyexpressed in a different way. The Boolean logic expression uses twounique symbols, 0 and 1, and unique places within the expression torepresent different meanings within the expression. Each unique meaningis expressed as a combination of symbol and place (wire). The 0 or 1 onone wire is different from the 0 or 1 on a different wire. These uniqueplace-value meanings of the Boolean logic expression can be mapped intoan expression purely in terms of unique symbols.

Imagine that there are a multitude of unique symbols available such thateach unique meaning can be represented by a unique symbol. Such amapping of unique symbols to meanings is shown in relation to theBoolean circuit in FIG. 16. Two unique symbols for each wire in thecircuit represent the 0 value and the 1 value for that wire.

C means X=0

D means X=1

E means Y=0

F means Y=1 and so on for each wire in the circuit.

Next, imagine a set of rules that express how the symbols interact andtransform into other symbols such as the set of rules below. GI[S] meansthe combination of symbols G and I transform into the symbol S. Theinteraction rules for the behavior of each logic operator are derivedfrom the symbols associated with each operator and its particularlogical operation. The derivation of the interaction rules for the ANDlogical operator surrounded by O, P, Q, R, W and X is shown in FIG. 17.

The resulting expression of the full-adder, which is just a collectionof interaction rules is shown below.

“fan-out input symbols”

A[g,k,o] B[h,l,p] C[G,K,O] D[H,L,P] E[I,M,Q] F[J,N,R]

“define combinational resolution stages”

GI[S] GJ[T] HI[S] HJ[S]

KM[U] KN[U] LM[V] LN[U]

OQ[W] OR[W] PQ[W] PR[X]

“fan out input to second half-adder”

SU[a,c,e] SV[b,d,f] TU[b,d,f] TV[b,d,f]

ga[i] gb[j] ha[i] hb[i]

kc[m] kd[m] lc[n] ld[m]

oe[q] of[q] pe[q] pf[r]

im[s] in[t] jm[t] jn[t] “sum”

qW[u] qX[v] rW[v] rX[v] “carry out”

Imagine that the expression above is directly enlivened withspontaneously behaving and interacting symbols. Symbol G knows it caninteract with symbols I and J and with no other symbols. Symbol I knowsit can interact with symbols G and H and no other symbols. G and I knowwhen they encounter each other to spontaneously transform into Seffecting the rule GI[S]. If the symbols are in a shaking bag, allpossible associations of symbols will occur and all possibleinteractions will happen. The expression resolves progressively andunambiguously through the spontaneous behavior of the individualsymbols. Input symbols thrown into the shaking bag will associate,transform and resolve the expression. FIG. 18 shows the progression ofresolution for input symbols B, C and F. The combinations of symbolsinvolved at each stage of interaction are circled and the rules involvedare shown between the bags.

Every symbol is unique and every combination of interacting symbols isunique. The coordination of the symbol resolution flow is embodied inthe symbolic expressions. When the expression is directly enlivened, thebehavior of the enlivened expression is completely and unambiguouslydetermined by the symbols and their interaction rules. There are noraces, no hazards and no ambiguous behavior. There is only the orderlypropagation of correct result symbols. When an s or t and a u or vappear, they express the correct completion of a resolution.

The new expression is a symbolic expression in the same sense that theBoolean logic expression is a symbolic expression. There is a populationof symbols with a set of symbol interaction rules. There is a directmapping between the Boolean symbolic expression and the new symbolicexpression. However, the new symbolic expression behaves correctly onits own symbolic merits. No extra expression such as a time interval isrequired. There is no need to “engineer” the enlivened expression tomake it work correctly. An engineering human is not required.

3.2.3 Eliminating the Conceiving Human

There is still the human in the works that conceived the Booleanexpression. We are used to thinking of the conception of a symbolicexpression as a carefully coordinated interplay between specifying a setof symbols, specifying the symbol interaction rules and specifying thepatterns of interaction, but if the resources of expression areprofligate, they are spontaneously active and they are contained in acommon place of interaction, then a large variety of symbolicexpressions must spontaneously arise and resolve. The entire realm ofthe laws of physics and chemistry provide an enormous domain ofinteraction rules for particle, atomic and molecular symbols. There are,for instance, 10130 possible protein symbols. Spontaneous symbolinteractions in the thermally agitated soup contained by the gravitywell of a young earth stumbled upon and ignited the expression of asustainable chain reaction that drifting through an immense possibilityspace for billions of years continues to smolder and begins tocontemplate itself. No human expressivity was required. The conceivinghuman finally becomes unnecessary to the existence of a spontaneouslybehaving symbol system and the last human is removed from the works.

3.3 Humanless Symbol Systems

While humans can still muck around in the works as they please, they areno longer conceptually integral to the works. Transcending itsmathematical heritage without abandoning it, dehumanized computerscience is essential to understanding the nature of symbolic expression.It can encompass expressions of natural symbolic computation as well asexpressions of human symbolic computation in the same way that thescience of aeronautics encompasses the airplane's wing and the bird'swing.

4 Transcending the Variable

The notion of the variable is deeply embedded in computer science andprogramming. Yet it is also viewed as a troublesome concept. There havebeen efforts to eliminate the variable, to tame the variable and tocompensate for the variable. However, there have been no efforts toquestion the notion of variable itself. Perhaps the troublesome aspectscan be dealt with by slightly altering the notion of what a variablename means.

4.1 The Variable in Mathematics

The notion of the variable is one of the more profound ideas ofmathematics. Variables allow the relations of an algebraic function tobe expressed in completely general terms with arbitrary symbols(variables) as placeholders for numeric values.

Consider the algebraic equation F=A+B. A and B are the domain variables.They can be replaced with any numeric value in the domain of thefunction. F is the range variable. It is replaced with the result of thefunction on whatever values replaced A and B. Once replaced, analgebraic variable no longer exists. Nor does the equation and itsvariables renew after a resolution. Each instance of the equation is anew instance of substitution on a new equation.

The notion of a mathematical variable is clearly defined:

-   -   “In general, variables, which are usually represented by        letters, represent empty space into which an arbitrary element        from a fixed set can be substituted.” [2]    -   “A variable is a symbol or a place-holder that can be replaced        by any member of a given set. The given set is called the        universal set or the universe of the variable. Each member of        the set is called a value of the variable.”[4]

4.2 The Variable in Computer Science

While there is no confusion about what a variable is in computerscience, it is difficult to find an explicit definition. The word andthe concept just are. Very early in one text discussing basic principlesof programming the following passage occurs with no prior definition,discussion or even mention of the concept of variable: “means the valueof the variable m is to be replaced by the current value of the variablen”[3].

The passage alone is nevertheless sufficiently defining. A computerscience variable is a symbolic name of a persistently existing storagebin that can contain over time a sequence of values from the universe ofthe variable in contrast to an element of a symbolic equation that canbe replaced. The variable is not replaced by a value, but the symbolicvariable coexists with a value contained in its storage bin. Thiscontained value can be accessed or replaced by referencing the storagebin with the symbolic variable.

4.2.1 The Confusion

While there are differences between the notion of the mathematicalvariable and the notion of the computer science variable, their usageappears identical. F=A+B is a valid programming statement as well as avalid mathematical equation. The mathematical equation, however,expresses nothing about where the values might come from. Anyoneanywhere in the universe can substitute the variables with values andresolve the resulting equation. One general equation serves allmathematical purposes.

On the other hand, each variable of a programming statement explicitlyexpresses where its value comes from by uniquely binding to a specificstorage bin. The symbolic name of the variable is associated with thestorage bin rather than with a specific equation. There may be manyidentical equations in a program referencing different variables. Andthere may be many different equations referencing the same variable.

The mathematical variable is bound to its equation. The computer sciencevariable is bound to a memory storage bin. The two notions of variableare quite different.

4.2.2 The Discontents

What appears on the surface to be a happy correspondence of a convenientabstraction becomes, in the details of binding, a troublesome conceptfor computer programming.

4.2.2.1 Scope of Reference

A variable, not being bound to a specific equation, can be referencedfrom anywhere in a program. Any equation in the program can reference anincorrect variable. There is no inherent limitation to a variable'sscope of reference. There have been conventions imposed to limit thescope of reference, such as information hiding, block structuring,strong typing and object orienting. These help some but there is stillsignificant reference freedom within the limited scopes. It is up to theprogrammer to get every variable reference right.

4.2.2.2 Order of Reference

Some variables depend on the values of other variables and variablereferences must occur in a specific partial order to properly implementthe dependency relationships of the process. There may be many sequencesthat express the specific partial order. There is nothing inherent inthe variables to suggest a proper sequence. A number of imposedconventions have addressed this issue, including eliminating the GOTOstatement, structured programming and limiting expression modules to aneasily graspable size. In the end, expressing a sequence that properlyimplements the specific partial ordering is entirely up to theprogrammer.

4.2.2.3 Side Effects

A program can mimic a mathematical equation as a subprogram with domainand range variables to which actual values are passed. This is very likethe mathematical view of substituting variables with actual values in aunique instantiation of an equation. But a sub-program can do somethingthat a mathematical equation cannot do. It can alter the values ofdomain variables, even though they are strictly input variables that arenot intended to be altered. This is called a side effect. Side effectscan be particularly sinister because a poorly written library routinethat a programmer has no control over can undermine her most exemplaryeffort to write a correct program.

4.3 A Competition of Mathematical Formalisms

The notion of the variable is at the center of a competition amongmathematical formalisms applied to programming. Imperative programmingderives from the notion of the algorithm as a step by steptransformation of an explicitly referenced state [3]. In a sequence oftransformations one transformation writes a storage bin to be read by alater transformation. The write and the read are expressed by anidentical variable name associated with each operation that binds to astorage bin.

Functional programming, on the other hand, views the variable namereference as a major source of programming ills and strives to eliminatethe use of variable names entirely by expressing processes in terms offunction application and by expressing function composition by syntacticnesting [1]. Values flow directly from function application to functionapplication through nesting relationships, eliminating the need to makeexplicit references to storage bins, and hence eliminating the need forvariable names. All the expressional difficulties with variablesincluding side effects are eliminated. However, syntactic nesting is alimited form of expressing association.

FIG. 19 illustrates the situation. FIG. 19 a is a graphic representationof a combinational expression. It is expressed in terms of directassociation relationships among operators. There is no explicitexpression of addressable storage. FIG. 19 b show, a sequential versionof the combinational expression. The explicit expression of storage isnecessary in addition to the expression of the sequence to express theprocess. FIG. 19 c is a functional expression of the process. Theoperations are directly associated by nested parenthesis. Again, thereis no explicit expression of or reference to storage of state.

To variable or not to variable, that is the question. Or is it?

4.4 Process Expression as Association Relationships

Neither the imperative nor the functional methods fully satisfy? Whilethe imperative method of sequencing operations and referencing variablesseems plodding, inelegant and too free form, functional programmingseems a pretension that does not quite deliver and is too limiting. Canthere be an underlying conceptual commonality that unifies andilluminates?

If there is a underlying commonality of process expression it should bediscernible in any serviceable expression of a process. Consider theinteger matrix addition routine of Example 4.1 in a typical imperativeform. MATRIX1 is added to MATRIX2 to produce MATRIX3 all of which are Nby M.

PROCEDURE MATRIXADD (MATRIX1, MATRIX2, MATRIX3, N, M) BEGIN   FOR I = 1TO N     FOR J = 1 TO M       MATRIX3(I, J) = MATRIX1(I, J) +      MATRIX2(I, J)     ENDFOR   ENDFOR END

Example 4.1 Example Expression

The outer loop associates the corresponding vectors of each matrix andpresents them to the inner loop. The inner loop associates thecorresponding integers of each vector and presents them to the integeradd expression.

The integer add software expression is a sequence of instructions thatmoves the corresponding integers from memory to associate them directlyto the hardware add expression. The hardware add expression associatesthe corresponding digits of each integer by wire connection and presentsthem to the expression for digit addition.

Assuming a binary representation of the integers, the associated digitsare presented to a binary full-adder circuit. The full-adder circuit isa combinational circuit expressed in terms of logic functions directlyassociated by wire connection. Each logic function directly associateseach possible input with its appropriate output transforming its inputdata directly to result data. Each full-adder combinational circuitproduces a result digit.

The integer add hardware expression then associates each result digit bywire connection to compose the result integer. The further instructionsof the integer add software function associates the results from thehardware add expression to form the result vector and then associatesthe result vectors to form the result matrix.

The characterization of the process expression and resolution is uniformand consistent even though three totally different expressionenvironments are involved: the high level programming languageprocedure, the machine instructions and the logic circuits of thehardware adder. Each very different expression is doing exactly the samething. It is decomposing the input data structure, associating thedecomposed data elements and presenting them to the next lower level ofprocess expression which further decomposes and associates until thedecomposed elements are primitive values that are associated withprimitive functions in the correct progression producing primitiveresult values. It is all just bookkeeping of association relationshipsto get the correct progression of primitive functions that realize theprocess.

What must be effectively expressed no matter what form of expression isbeing employed is the proper patterns of association relationships.Consider the mathematical function of Example 4.2 for the distancebetween two Cartesian points.

d=need to past in math function

Example 4.2 Mathematical Function

This mathematical notation very elegantly expresses the associationrelationships among the parts of the expression. There is no expressionof sequence and no reference to any variables other than the input andoutput variables. FIG. 20A shows the graphical representation of theassociation relationships of the distance equation.

The process is expressed imperatively in Example 4.3 in terms of astrict sequence of operations writing and reading intermediatevariables. Each source operation must explicitly store its result valuein a storage bin and each destination operation must explicitly refer tothe storage bin of the value when its turn in the sequence occurs.

-   -   Operation 1: temp1=x2−x1;    -   Operation 2: temp2=y2−y1;    -   Operation 3: temp3=temp1*temp1;    -   Operation 4: temp4=temp2*temp2;    -   Operation 5: temp5=temp3+temp4;    -   Operation 6: distance=sqrt(temp5);

Example 4.3 Imperative Expression

The variables, explicitly referencing temporary storage bins, areimplicitly expressing an association relationship from the place in theexpression where the variable is written to the place in the expressionwhere the variable is read.

The association relationships can also be expressed by explicitlyattaching names to places and associating the names directly by namecorrespondence shown in Example 4.4. name< > will represent a sourceplace and $name will represent a destination place. If a source placename and a destination place name correspond, then the two places areassociated. Values flow directly from source places to destinationplaces.

-   -   place1<x2−x1>    -   place2<y2−y1>    -   place3<$place1*$place1>    -   place4<$place2*$place2>    -   place5<$place3+$place4>    -   distance<sqrt($place5)>

Example 4.4 Name Association Expression

Since the association relationships among the place names determine thestructure of the expression there is no inherent ordering of thestatements. Example 4.5 is identical to Example 4.4.

place4<$place2*$place2>place3<$place1*$place1>place2<y2−y1>

distance<sqrt($place5)>place5<$place3+$place4>place1<x2−x1>

Example 4.5 Alternative Name Association Expression

Another possibility is expressing the association relationships withsyntactic nesting rather than name correspondence as in Example 4.6.This is the choice of functional programming.

distance(sqrt(add((mult(sub(x2,x1),sub(x2,x1)),mult(sub(y2,y1),sub(y2,y1))))

Example 4.6 Syntactic Nesting Expression

It will be noticed that there are two references to sub(x2,x1) and tosub(y2,y1) because fan-out cannot be expressed with syntactic nestingassociation. FIG. 20B graphically illustrates the association structurefor the functional expression. Referencing identical function callsmultiple times because of the inability to express fan-out leads toawkward expressions and belaborments of the obvious such as the notionof referential transparency, which states that a function called withthe same input values must always deliver the same result values. Whywould a function not always deliver the same results for the sameinputs? Because functional programming does not characterize theinternal expression of the function and it does not eliminate all sideeffects. Referential transparency states as a rule that there can be noside effects.

Fan-out relationships can be directly expressed with name correspondencerelationships as shown in Example 4.7, which is entirely in terms ofname correspondence association relationships with no syntactic nesting.

-   -   place1<sub(x2,x1)>    -   place2<sub(y2,y1)>    -   place3<mult($place1,$place1)>    -   place4<mult($place2,$place2)>    -   place5<add($place3,$place4)>    -   distance<sqrt($place5)>

Example 4.7 Completely in Terms of Name Correspondence Association

The reader should notice that the only example that employed the notionof a variable as an explicit reference to storage bins was Example 4.3which expressed the process as a sequence of operations. Example 4.4expressed the association relationships in terms of name correspondence.The other examples expressed the process in terms of direct associationrelationships. All the examples effectively express the process. Theunderlying commonality is that they are all, one way or another,expressing association relationships among places in the expression.There is nothing expressionally fundamental or necessary aboutexpressing strict sequentiality or about explicitly referencing storagebins. If one forgets that the names temp1, temp2 and so on, refer tostorage bins and view them as direct association relationships, then theexpression of Example 4.3 is structurally identical to Example 4.4. Itis just a slight change in point of view.

4.5 Transcending the Variable

The variable name as a reference to a storage bin is clearlyproblematic. But the solution is not to avoid the use of reference namesentirely but to reconsider what these names might refer to. The notionof a name referring to direct association relationships between placeswithin an expression accomplished the same end as the variable name,while avoiding the problems of the variable name as a reference to astorage bin. The reference scope of a name expressing a directassociation relationship is locally limited by the nature of the directassociation relationship. There can only be one source place associatedwith a name which is equivalent to imposing the property of singleassignment on a storage bin variable. Side effects and the ambiguitiesof sequence associated with variable names simply do not occur withnames expressing direct association relationships. Direct associationrelationships can be automatically mapped to storage bin references.There is no need for the notion of the variable name as an explicitreference to a storage bin.

5 The Invocation Model

Process is the appreciation of differentness. Differentness isappreciated with change: an after that is different from a before.Change must include an encompassing persistence that relates aparticular after to a particular before. XZ changes to XY and YA changesto YC. Z appreciates X by changing to Y, A appreciates Y by changing toC. Z and Y are related by a persistence. A and C are related by a secondpersistence. The two persistences are themselves different and arerelated by the interaction of YA. This counterpoint of persistencerelating differentness of change relating differentness of persistencerelating differentness of change is the essence of process and itsexpression.

5.1 Thengs and Values

A primitive expression of differentness is introduced: a theng (soundslike thing), which asserts one at a time of two or more possible values.A theng is a persistence relating its changing values. Different thengscan associate and their values can interact and change. Two thengs areassociated when they are sufficiently proximate for their values tointeract. Thengness expressing persistence is substantial and spatial.Valueness expressing change is symbolic and temporal. The assertedvalues of associated thengs form a name. Values forming a name cantransform in accordance with a correspondingly named value transformrule. Thengs, values, association relationships among thengs and valuetransform rules are the only primitive concepts that will be introduced.Everything that follows is in terms of these primitive concepts.

Thengs can form association structures. Each theng in an associationstructure is different from all other thengs in the structure by virtueof its unique place in the structure. This will be called associationdifferentiation.

Values can interact specifically with other values according to a set ofvalue transform rules. A value is different from all other values byvirtue of its unique interaction behavior with all the other values.This will be called value differentiation.

Association differentiation and value differentiation are twocomplementary domains of differentiation interlinked by thengs assertingvalues. They form a primitive warp and woof of persistence and changefrom which is woven the tapestry of process expression.

A theng asserting a value can take many different forms. It might be awire asserting a voltage, a protein asserting a shape value, a moleculeasserting a chemical identity, a digit asserting a value, a humanasserting speech, a field asserting a force and so on. It is calledtheng because no common word quite covers the scope of the notion.

Each domain of differentiation can be considered individually byminimizing the differentiation of the other domain. Valuedifferentiation can be considered on its own terms in an expressionwhere all differentiation is in terms of value and there is nodifferentiation in terms of association. This will be called a purevalue expression.

5.2 Pure Value Expression

In a pure value expression the thengs asserting values are all mutuallyassociated at a single place of association. There is no structure ofassociation relationships and no way to tell one theng from another byits unique place in a structure of association relationships; there isno differentiation in terms of association. The only differentness atthe single place of association is differentness of value.

5.2.1 The Mutual Association of Thengs

There are two ways to view the mutual association of thengs at a singleplace. The first view is to consider that thengs are all staticallymutually associated. This is illustrated on the left of FIG. 21 withfour thengs, each directly associating with the other three. One mightimagine a group of neurons each having a synapse with all the others.All possible names are simultaneously formed by the asserted values ofthe associated thengs.

The second view is to consider that thengs are dynamically mutuallyassociated by being locally constrained and agitated such that allthengs will eventually associate and all possible names will eventuallybe formed. This is illustrated on the right of FIG. 21 as a shaking bag.The bag is the expression of the association relationship. It ensuresthat thengs will not wander off and fail to associate. One mightenvision this in terms of warm matter in a gravity well or the cytoplasmwithin a cell membrane.

The condition of being statically associated is expressionaly identicalto the condition of being dynamically associated. Simultaneous staticassociation corresponds to the case of all eventual dynamic associationsfortuitously occurring simultaneously.

5.2.2 The Value Transform Rule

The change behavior of formed names is expressed by a set of valuetransform rules. These rules express all the values that can populate apure value expression, all the resolvable names that can be formed bythe values and the resolution of each name.

A value transform rule is expressed as a name formed by an associationof values and the result values to which the name resolves. Theassociation of values itself is the name of the rule. The symbol stringrepresentation of a value transform rule is:

-   -   name[result]

For example, the rule AB[F] states that if the values A and B associate,the rule named AB will be invoked resolving the name with the values Aand B transforming into the value F. The values A and B cease and thevalue F becomes. While the values of a symbol string are inherentlyordered, the values associating to form a name in a pure valueexpression are not ordered. BA is the same name as AB. If associatedvalues do not form the name of a value transform rule, there is noresolution and no value transformation.

A pure value expression is an association of the thengs asserting theirvalues and a set of value transform rules. The set of value transformrules expresses all resolvable names and how they are to be resolved.Which names will actually form depends on the values asserted by thethengs. When a resolvable name is formed, the appropriate rule isinvoked and the value transformation occurs.

A set of value transform rules might be the functions of a logic, theoperations of an arithmetic, the laws of chemistry, protein interactionrules and so on.

5.2.3 Value Differentiation

One value is different from all other values because it interacts withthe other values differently from all the other values;

AX[B] means that if A associates with X, the result is B.

AZ[C] means that if A associates with Z, the result is C.

X and Z are different because they behave differently with A.

Consider the following set of value transform rules.

-   -   AX[B]    -   AZ[C]    -   NB[J]    -   CN[G]    -   GM[K]    -   GD[L]

Assume that a place initially contains A, M and N. If an X arrives, theresult will be a J;

-   -   AX->B    -   BN->J.

If a Z appears, because M is present, the result will be a K;

-   -   AZ->C    -   CN->G    -   GM->K.

If D was present instead of M the result would be L;

-   -   AZ->C    -   CN->G    -   GD->L.

Each value is different from each other value because its name formingand resolution behavior, as expressed by the value transform rules, isdifferent from all the other values.

Notice that the resolution of each expression is fully coordinated. BNcannot form until AX has formed and transformed into B. GM cannot formuntil CN is formed and transformed into G and CN cannot form until AZ isformed and transformed into C and so on. There is no ambiguity in thebehavior of the expression. In particular, there are no races orhazards. The behavior is directed, discrete and fully deterministic.

While value transform rules can directly express fully determinedbehavior they can also express ambiguous behavior. If, for instance D, Mand G are present in the expression above the names GM and GD canequally form and K or L are equally possible results. In the shaking bagone name may form and transform before the other. In the staticassociation expression both names will form simultaneously, but there isonly one G; only one behavior can occur and it is not possible topredetermine which behavior will occur. There is no referent or metricin either case to determine one behavior over the other. The behaviorsare equally uncertain in both forms of expression.

5.2.4 Differentness as Limitation of Behavior

Differentness is an expression of limited possibilities. A theng caninteract only with neighbor thengs with which it is directly associated.A value can transform only with other values that form the name of avalue transform rule. Behavior in time is limited by the mutuallyexclusive behavior of the theng, which asserts only one at a time of twoor more possible values.

If all possibilities occur—all thengs associate and all values interactequally all the time—then there is no differentness. If no possibilitiesoccur, thengs never associate and values never transform then, there isalso no differentness.

5.2.5 Differentness as Ongoing Behavior

Imagine that the thengs, the values, the shaking bag and a set of valuetransform rules is all there is. There is no meta observer, no metacontext, no meta metric of space or time, no meta reference frame. Thereare only the values forming names and resolving according to valuetransform rules. The expressed differentnesses can only be appreciatedby the expression itself.

A name forms from an initial set of values that transforms to one ormore values different from the initial set of values. Then a new nameand transforms into new different values that form new unique names andso on. Differentness is appreciated by transforming into newdifferentnesses, which are appreciated by transforming into newdifferentnesses and so on. The expressed process can continue as long asthere are different values and value transform rules to support it.

At some point values might reappear in the expression, forming namespreviously formed and the expression can become cyclic. Consider thefollowing cyclic expression;

-   -   AB[CD], ST[XY], CY[AT], XD[SB].

Beginning with the values A, B, S and T the names AB and ST will formresolving to C, D, X and Y. The names CY and XD will form resolving toA, B, S and T. This cycle will continue indefinitely. From the point ofview of the expression there is differentness and the differentness isbeing appreciated. But the differentness does not extend beyond itselfand cannot be appreciated beyond itself.

An extreme case of isolation is the value transform rule AB[AB]. Theresult values are identical to the name-forming values and immediatelyreform the name. Whether this formed name is constantly resolving, notresolving at all, or whether it even exists cannot be appreciated, evenby itself.

Static values that do not participate in the formation of any name andnever transform, or values that spontaneously cease and become with noencompassing relationship, do not extend beyond themselves and cannot beappreciated in a greater context. There is no such thing as a staticdifferentness or an isolated differentness. Differentness cannot standon its own; it must be appreciated.

The whole point of differentness is that its appreciation abets ongoingbehavior. Process is the continual extended appreciation ofdifferentness. Differentness continually appreciating itself. The onlyimportant thing is to not become isolated (an isolated cycle) and to notbecome extinct (cease being appreciated). Each differentness must extendbeyond itself to appreciate and to be appreciated. A value transformrule, as the most primitive expression of process, extends beyond itselfby asserting at least one result value that is not in its name.

One might suggest that if a value or a behavior exists, it existswhether it participates or not, so one should pursue the truth andconsider it. From a meta view one might observe the differences amongstatic values or the behavior of spontaneously becoming and ceasingvalues or the behavior of self-sustaining cycles, but there is no metaview and there is no meta observer. There are only the thengs, thevalues and the value transform rules. There is no question of truth: ofwhat really is or what really happens. There is only the question ofwhat can be appreciated with the resources at hand. What cannot beappreciated cannot be considered.

5.2.6 Roman Numerals

The introduction to pure value expression begins with the system ofroman numerals without the subtractive principle (9 is VIIII instead ofIX). In a place-value number system, values are reused at each place ofassociation (digit place) in a number. The magnitude of a value isexpressed by the value and by its place of association in relation toother values of the number. In the roman number system the magnitude ofa value is unique. While the values of roman numbers are generallypresented in a certain order of association for convenient reading,without the subtractive principle, the order is not significant to theirmeaning. All differentiation is expressed by unique values. Themagnitude of the number is determined solely by the values present.There is no differentiation in terms of association relationship. MMV isequal to MVM and VMM.

The expression of Roman numeral addition is a set of value transformrules.

-   -   IIIII[V]    -   XXXXX[L]    -   LL[C]    -   CCCCC[D]    -   DD[M]

Given two roman numbers these rules will reduce them to a minimal singlenumber representation. The numbers 1978 and 22 are used as examples;

-   -   MDCCCCLXXVIII+XXII=MM.

Assume thengs that can assert the roman numerals and that the valuetransform rules are embodied in the thengs. The thengs recognize aformed name and spontaneously transform their values in response. Onecan just throw the two numbers into a shaking bag. The five Is will formthe name IIIII, invoke the rule IIIII[V] and transform into a V. Thereare then two Vs that will transform to an X. The five Xs will transformto an L, the two Ls to a C, the five Cs to a D and finally the two Ds toan M. What remain are two Ms. There is no transform rule with the nameMM, so no more names can be formed and the addition is completed. Namesform, values transform and eventually the sum appears.

5.2.7 Expressional Completeness

The expression itself cannot determine when its resolution is completed.The only way to determine the progress of the resolution is to open thebag and count the values. Roman numeral arithmetic was never intended tobehave autonomously in a shaking bag. Integral to the system was theassumption of a trained human able to discern value states, tomanipulate the values with well defined procedures, to resolve all theambiguities and to determine when the resolution was done. None of thishuman expressivity is embodied in the pure value expression above.

If a coordinating human is not available, the expression itself must beenhanced to express the appropriate coordination behavior. There must bea completeness of expression that eliminates the ambiguities ofbehavior. This can be expressed with more values and more valuetransform rules.

To determine completeness of resolution there must be a progression ofname formation and resolution such that there is a necessarily last nameformed and appreciated. With the present form of the expression theremight not even be a first name formed. VI+XII=XVIII with no names formedand resolved at all. There must be a completeness of behavior at eachstage of name formation and resolution to ensure that every name in theprogression is formed and appreciated in an orderly progression with aguaranteed last appreciation. Completeness of behavior first requires acompleteness of representation at each stage of resolution.

The first question of an addition is, How many Is are present in thebag? The process must count the Is and somehow determine that it hasconsidered all the Is and has not missed any Is in the bag. This isquite impossible with just thengs, values and value transform rulesunless the number of Is to be counted can be pre-expressed.

The number of Is to be counted cannot be pre-expressed unless the numberof Is is constant. This can be arranged with zero place-holder symbolsso that there can be a constant number of each value in each number.Since each numeral value expresses a different magnitude there must be aunique zero or place holder value associated with each numeral value.The corresponding lower case letter will be used as the zero value foreach numeral value as shown in Table 5.1.

TABLE 5.1 Roman numeral values with their associated zero values.Numeral value Zero value I i V v X x L l C c D d M m

In a minimal Roman number it is possible to have zero to four Is. Thezero value I is used such that there is always exactly four of I and/orI in a number: iiii, Iiii, Iiii, IIIi, IIII. When two numbers are added,there will always be exactly eight of I and/or i. The criterion forcompleteness can now be pre expressed in the value transform rule names.The name of each rule, shown in Table 5.2, is exactly eight values. Eachname is a symbol string but this does not imply any position dependencyof the symbol values. The name IIIiiiii means that there is three of Iand five of I in no particular order.

TABLE 5.2 Transform rules for the addition of Is with the zeroplace-holders. Iiiiiiii[iiiiv] Iiiiiiii[Iiiiv] Iiiiiiii[Iiiiv]IIIiiiii[IIIiv] IIIIiiii[IIIIv] IIIIIiii[iiiiV] IIIIIIii[IiiiV]IIIIIIIi[IiiiV] IIIIIIII[IIIiV]

A rule will be invoked only when its name is completely formed by alleight values. This requirement of completeness of name formation is themechanism of behavior coordination.

The V or v is the carry to the V,v addition. There are one each of Vand/or v in the two numbers and there will always be a carry value of Vor v. So there will always be exactly three of V and/or v present. Thenames of the value transform rules, shown in, requires 3 of V and/or v.The carry value from the I resolution must be present before the V,vname can form and resolve. Because of the completeness requirement theV,v addition occurs strictly after the I,I addition is completed. Thecarry values express the necessary progression of name formations andresolutions.

TABLE 5.3 Transform rules for addition of Vs. vvv[vx] Vvv[Vx] VVv[vX]VVV[VX]

There will be four X,xs in each Roman number so adding two numbers willinvolve 8 values and the carry value will make exactly nine values toform the X,x addition names as shown in Table 5.4. Again, the X,xaddition will occur strictly after the V,v addition.

TABLE 5.4 Addition rules for Xs xxxxxxxxx[xxxxl] Xxxxxxxxx[Xxxxl]XXxxxxxxx[XXxxl] XXXxxxxxx[XXXxl] XXXXxxxxx[XXXXl] XXXXXxxxx[xxxxL]XXXXXXxxx[XxxxL] XXXXXXXxx[XXxxL] XXXXXXXXx[XXXxL] XXXXXXXXX[XXXXL]

The remaining rule sets, shown in Table 5.5 can be similarly derivedexcept for M,m which poses a difficulty because it does not have aninherent maximal form. One can put as many Ms as one likes in a numberand there is no way to predetermine how many Ms there are. The only wayto deal with this is to limit the number of M,ms allowed in a number. Inthis discussion the number of M,ms will be limited to five so that, withthe carry, there are always exactly eleven of M and/or m. The additionrules for M clip any result greater than five Ms to five Ms withoutconsidering the lesser numerals.

TABLE 5.5 Addition rules for L, C, D and M Rules for L Rules for C Rulesfor D Rules for M lll[lc] ccccccccc[ccccd] ddd[dm] mmmmmmmmmmm[mmmmmZ]Lll[Lc] Ccccccccc[Ccccd] Ddd[Dm] Mmmmmmmmmmm[MmmmmZ] LLl[lC]CCccccccc[CCccd] DDd[dM] MMmmmmmmmmm[MMmmmZ] LLL[LC] CCCcccccc[CCCcd]DDD[DM] MMMmmmmmmmm[MMMmmZ] CCCCccccc{CCCCd] MMMMmmmmmmm[MMMMmZ]CCCCCcccc[ccccD] MMMMMmmmmmm[MMMMMZ] CCCCCCccc[CcccD]MMMMMMmmmmm[MMMMMZ] CCCCCCCcc[CCccD] MMMMMMMmmmm[MMMMMZ]CCCCCCCCc[CCCcD] MMMMMMMMmmm[MMMMMZ] CCCCCCCCC[CCCCD]MMMMMMMMMmm[MMMMMZ] MMMMMMMMMMm[MMMMMZ] MMMMMMMMMMM[MMMMMZ]

A modified Roman numeral is always exactly 20 values; four of I or i,one of V or v, four of X or x, one of L or 1, four of C or c, one of Dor d, and five of M or m. The number one is mmmmmdcccclxxxxviiiI. Thenumber zero is mmmmmdcccclxxxxviiii. This representation is analogous toa two's complement binary number represented in a 32 bit computer thatis always 32 bits regardless of its magnitude.

The Roman numbers

-   -   MDCCCCLXXVIII and XXII

now become

-   -   mmmmMDCCCCLxxXXViIII and mmmmmdcccclxxXXviiII

and the addition operation becomes:

mmmmMDCCCCLxxXXViIII+mmmmmdcccclxxXXviiII=mmmMMdcccclxxxxviiii.

The addition process accepts two completely represented numbers andproduces one completely represented number. The number representationconventions presented to the expression are preserved in the finalresult of the expression. The completeness of the representation of theinput numbers and transform rules expresses an unambiguous progressionof name formations and resolutions. The requirement of completelyforming a name to invoke a transform rule fully coordinates theprogression of resolutions. The I,i addition is the necessarily firstresolution. As shown in FIG. 23 b the successive carry values shepherd acoordinated progression of resolutions that lead to the addition of theM,ms as the necessarily last resolution.

No matter how long it takes for the names to form and resolve theexpression autonomously resolves in an orderly progression of nameformations and resolutions to a necessarily last name formation andresolution which generates the coordination value Z to indicate that theaddition is completed. Z might open the bag and spill the results.

5.2.8 Pure Value Summary

A pure value expression consists of thengs mutually associated at asingle place asserting values that form names and transform inaccordance with a set of value transform rules. Pure value expressionand the notion of completeness of expression was illustrated with romannumeral addition. The classic roman numeral expression requires a humanto complete the expression and coordinate its behavior. As was shownearlier, more values, value transform rules and conventions ofexpression can be used to express the coordination behavior previouslyexpressed by a human, that the Roman Numeral expression, or any otherpure value expression, can be complete in itself, expressing a fullydetermined progression of spontaneous behavior that unambiguouslyproduces a correct result.

The behavior of the process is completely expressed solely in terms ofassociated thengs asserting values behaving in accordance with valuetransform rules. No other concepts or expressional elements such as anexplicit control mechanism or timing relationships need to beintroduced. In particular, no humans are needed.

The Thengs of a Pure Value Expression

The thengs of a pure value expression serve as a medium of valueassertion and do not contribute to differentiation. When thengs do notcontribute to differentiation, their specific behavior is expressionalyirrelevant. They may behave as is convenient to express the values. Fromsome mythical meta view they may disappear, appear, merge or split, butthere is no meta view. Values are asserted by thengs that are allmutually associated and that is all that can be said.

Concurrent Behavior

At a single place of association there can be a multitude of pure valueexpressions with mutually disjoint value sets and value transform rulesets simultaneously and independently behaving in a single frothing seaof values. This is the expressional form of the cytoplasm of a livingcell which is a single place of association filled with specificallyinteracting proteins supporting the intermingled expression of hundredsof independent processes proceeding simultaneously and withoutambiguity.

The Temporal Nature of Pure Value Expression

A pure value expression resolves in a progression of name formations andresolutions. Clearly, there is a temporal aspect of befores and aftersto a pure value expression. What is the nature of this temporal aspectand what are its limits?

Might it not be the case that sometimes the name-forming values ceasesome time interval before the result values become or that the nameforming values linger after the result values become and co-exist for atime with the result values.

A formed name can be appreciated only by the result values becoming. Aslong as the name-forming values cease without further behavior, whetherthey ceased before the result values became or whether they lingered toco-exist with the result values cannot be appreciated. Consequently thequestion of temporal intervals between the formation of a name, itsresolution and the assertion of the result values is meaningless.

By the same token there is no transition interval of appreciation, noduration of name-forming values ceasing and result values becoming. Aname cannot be formed with half a value or almost a value. Stages ofbecoming of a value cannot be appreciated and cannot be considered.Similarly there is no way to appreciate stages of ceasing of a value.

A partially formed name cannot be appreciated. Only completely formednames can be appreciated. There is no means of appreciating how long avalue lingers before forming a name or how long a name takes to form.There is no means of appreciating that any particular value has not yetformed a name or that any particular name has not yet fully formed.There is no interval of name formation:

At this most primitive level there is only a progression of discretebefores and afters. Remember that there is no meta view or meta referentor metric of time. There is only the thengs, the values and the valuetransform rules.

The Spatial Nature of Pure Value Expression

The thengs of a pure value expression are all at a single place ofassociation. There is no here or there within the place. All values andtheir asserting thengs are equally here. In a shaking bag thengs clearlyoccupy space relative to each other within the expression and one mightbe tempted to consider their relative locations and movements within theexpression. This temptation, however, requires a meta view, a metareference frame and a meta metric, none of which are available. The onlyappreciation that can occur within the place of association is theformation and resolution of a name. Relative spatial position within theplace is not appreciable.

If one must talk of spatial place inside a pure value expression, onemight say that each theng is simultaneously everywhere inside theexpression or that each theng is nowhere in particular inside theexpression. One might even say that a theng inside the expression doesnot even exist until its value interacts and is appreciated. Suchcomments have no expressional relevance and are all equally meaningless.

5.3 Association Expression

Association expression is the association of thengs in specificstructures of association relationships. This is in contrast to themutual association of thengs in a pure value expression, which has nostructure. Differentness is expressed by unique place in the structure.Each theng and its asserted value is different from every other thengand its asserted value by virtue of its place in the structure ofassociation relationships. Identical values asserted at different placesare different by virtue of the differentness of their asserting thengs.A pure association expression occurs when a process is expressed purelyin terms of association differentiation with no value differentiation.

But before pure association expression can be presented, there are a fewpreliminaries of association expression that must be addressed. Thedifficulty is that while a pure value expression can express discreteand directed behavior solely in terms of values and value transformrules with no association differentiation, an association expressioncannot express discrete and directed behavior solely in terms ofassociation relationships with no value differentiation. Aninfrastructure of value differentiation must be established before thepure association expression can be presented

5.3.1 The Behavior of Statically Associated Thengs

A theng has no structure and cannot appreciate any orientation ofassociation with other thengs. It has no input or output, no top orbottom, no right or left. There is no way for a theng to differentiatethe other thengs with which it is associated. Each theng sees a nameformed of its own value and the unordered values of the thengs directlyassociated with it and changes its own value in response to the formedname. Each theng in a structure of association is a locus of a purevalue expression. Each association between two thengs links two purevalue expression loci. A structure of associated thengs forms astructure of interlinking pure value expressions.

Theng D in FIG. 24 a sees a four value name formed by its own value andthe values of thengs B, C and E and partially resolves the formed nameby changing its own value. The locus of theng D is indicated by a shadedring. There is no way for theng D to determine which value is from whichtheng. Theng E in FIG. 24 b sees a four value name formed by its ownvalue and the values of thengs D, G and F and partially resolves theformed name by changing its own value. When theng D in FIG. 24 c changesits value it changes the name presented to theng E, which will changeits value changing the name presented to theng D and so on. FIG. 24 dshows the structure of overlapping and interlinking pure valueexpressions.

If all thengs assert the same values and resolve the same names, nameformation and resolution will flow continually in all directions throughan association structure. Its behavior will be neither discrete nordirected.

5.3.2 Directionalizing the Resolution Behavior of AssociationExpressions

To directionalize the flow of resolution, it must be ensured that resultvalues do not influence the formation of the names that generated theresult value. This directional behavior is expressed with valuedifferentiation.

The case of all associated thengs asserting the same value and resolvingthe same names is illustrated in FIG. 25 a. All three A thengs assertthe same values (0,1) continually forming and resolving the same nameswith each other. Value change flows in all directions continually orresult values cease changing (all three thengs asserting 1). Fordirectionalized behavior each theng must assert values that do notinfluence the formation of the name that it recognizes and resolves.

Directional resolution behavior that does not feedback on itself can beexpressed with three thengs in linear association asserting disjointresult values as shown in FIG. 25 b. Theng A sees names formed of 0, 1,X, Y, S and T. It asserts the result values X and Y. The set of valuetransform rules for theng A assert a result value based on the values 0and 1. The values X, Y, S and T are effectively ignored by the valuetransform rules. Theng B asserts values (S,T) for names including X andY and effectively ignores the values 0, 1, S and T in the formed name.Theng C then resolves names formed with the values (S,T) asserted bytheng B into the values (0,1) effectively ignoring the values X, Y, 0and 1. Theng C is not associated with theng A, so the values (0,1)asserted by theng C cannot participate in forming the name presented totheng A; the progression of value change does not feedback on itself. Bynot showing the name forming values effectively ignored by the set ofvalue transform rules associated with each theng, the value transformrules of the three thengs can be re-expressed as shown in FIG. 25 c.

To express directional behavior, two thengs that assert identical valuesmust be separated by at least two linear associations with thengs thatassert values that are different from the identical values and differentfrom each others values. The (X, Y) and (S, T) value sets buffer the(0,1) values asserted by rightmost theng C from participating in theformation of the name presented to theng A, thereby creating adirectional flow of appreciation behavior through the structure ofassociations.

The general problem of assigning three sets of values and valuetransform rules to ensure that all identical value sets areappropriately isolated is similar to coloring a map with four colorswhich can be extremely complex. No map maker, however, has ever made amap with four colors because with five or six colors the problem ofisolating and differentiating each use of a color is much easier.Similarly, if many sets of different values and value transform rulesare available, the general problem of isolating value usage in anassociation structure is much easier.

Nature likely solves this problem in the general sense with lots ofvalue sets. For the human, however, there is a straightforwardconvention using only three value sets that dramatically simplifies theproblem.

The Unit of Association

A linear three-theng structure can be defined that has an inputassociation place and an output association place; that always isolatesthe output from the input. This structure can then be employed as aconventional directionalized unit of association. The unit can then bedefined in terms of its input and output values ignoring the internalbuffering values as shown in FIG. 26 a. It can be assumed that thefunctional value transform rules are associated with theng A and thatthengs B and C are just buffering thengs. Units of association can thenbe associated output to input, to express large directionalizedstructures of association relationships as shown in FIG. 26 b. FIG. 26 cshows theng C extended to facilitate association with theng As of otherunits.

FIG. 27 a shows the units graphically stylized to indicate theirfunctionality and directionality. FIG. 27 b shows a further stylizationthat ignores the internal structure of the unit. Once the unit ofassociation convention is established, the internal bufferingassociations need not be explicitly expressed and need not even be thesame across different units of association that use the same input andoutput values. One can now ignore the internal buffering structure ofthe unit of association and consider it as an operator with directedinput and output and a set of externally visible values and valuetransform rules that define its functionality. One can now speak interms of a single set of values, of operations on combinations of thosevalues and of combining these operations in structures of associationrelationships. A unit of association will also be called an operator.

The Switch

The simplest directionalized expression is a switch. A switch is asingle input functionless association structure whose output is isolatedfrom its input by value differentiation. Consider the electromagneticswitch of FIG. 28 a. It receives an input current value, that influencesa magnetic field value, that influences a physical position value, thatinfluences a result current value. The output current is isolated fromthe input current by two different value domains of interaction. Theng Ais the coil and core of the electromagnet, theng B is the spring of theswitch lever and theng C is the lever and output wire of the switch. Thevalue transform rules for the thengs of an electromagnetic switch mightlook like the following;

Theng A Theng B Theng C incurrent[magnetic magnetic field[lever down]lever down[outcurrent] field] no incurrent[no no magnetic field[leverup] lever up[no outcurrent] magnetic field]

The electronic tube of FIG. 28 b receives a voltage value, thatinfluences a charge value in a vacuum, that influences current flowvalue through the vacuum, that influences the output voltage value, thatdoes not feed back and influence the input voltage value.

The voltage on the transistor gate of FIG. 28 c influences the chargevalue in the channel, that influences the electron flow value throughthe channel, that influences the voltage value at the output, that doesnot feed back and influence the input voltage value.

The switch has been considered to be a fundamental element for buildingcomputer, because Boolean logic functions can be expressed in terms ofnetworks of switches, because a switch is directional, because itasserts a fresh (amplified) signal and because it is easy to understandand build. But any means of discrete interactive behavior will sufficeas a primitive element of autonomous computation.

5.3.3 Discretizing the Resolution Behavior of Association Relationships

The directionalized behavior, however, is not discrete. Consider thatthe name presented to an operator is 01, which is appreciated by theoperator asserting 1. Assume that the next name to be resolved is 10,which is expressionaly identical to 01 but both inputs will transitiontheir values. If the 1 value transitions to 0 before the 0 valuetransitions to 1, then the name 00 is temporarily formed and appreciatedby the operator output transitioning to 0. When the 0 transitions to 1,the name 10 is formed and the operator output transitions to 1. Thetransition of the operator to 0 was an erroneous resolution thatdepended on the sequence of transitions of the inputs. If the 0 hadtransitioned to 1 first forming the name 11, then the operator wouldhave continued asserting 1 and the spurious transition to 0 would nothave occurred. Further, when the original 1 value transitions to 0,there is still no transition of the operator output value. There hasbeen no spurious transition, but there has been no appreciating changeeither. There is no way to appreciate that 10 is the next fully formedname and is correctly resolved by the operator.

In the pure value expressions above the complete formation of a name isan appreciable event that occurs in relation to the absence of a formedname. There is no formed name. Suddenly there is a formed name. A valuetransform rule is invoked. The formed name disappears and the resultvalue appears. Each name formation and its resolution is a discreteevent. In a static structure of associated thengs, a completely formedresolvable name is continually presented to a unit of association, whichcontinually resolves the presented name. There is never an absence of aformed name, so there can be no discrete occurrence of a formed namedname to mark the beginning of a resolution. There is never an absence ofan asserted result, so there can be no discrete occurrence of anasserted result to mark the completion of a resolution.

To appreciate discrete name formation and resolution in a context ofcontinually presented values, consecutively presented names must beformed from disjoint value sets. A name is completely formed when valuestransition from values of one set to a completely formed name of valuesof another set. Alternately transitioning formed names between at leasttwo disjoint sets of values allows the completeness of name formationand the resolution of the name to be appreciated as a discrete event.Distributing disjoint value sets over a large expression could be verycomplicated but, again, there is a convenient convention that greatlysimplifies the task for humans.

The NULL Convention

A single new value is assigned that is disjoint from the name formingvalues. If the name forming values are called ‘data’ values the newlyassigned value will be a ‘not data’ value called NULL. A name formed of‘data’ values will express “a data name”. A name formed of all NULLvalues will express “not a data name.” A data name and all NULL can formalternately in relation to each other as shown in FIG. 29. The formationof each name is a discrete appearance event in its value domain. A dataname can form in relation to all NULL. And all NULL can form in relationto a data name. In both cases the discrete completeness of nameformation (all NULL or complete data) can be directly appreciated by thevalue transform rules

These monotonic transitionings will be called wavefronts. The monotonictransition from ‘completely NULL’ to ‘completely data’ is a datawavefront and the transition from ‘completely data’ to ‘completely NULL’is a NULL wavefront. Successive ‘data’ names are separated by an allNULL ‘not data’ name. This will be referred to as the NULL convention.

The Completeness Criterion.

Each operator must now appreciate these completeness relations in termsof its value transform rules. Each operator must transition its assertedvalue only when its input values are a completely formed data name orare all NULL. The following three rules condition the behavior of anoperator;

-   -   If input is “completely data,” then transition output to the        “data” resolution of input.    -   If input is “completely NULL,” then transition output to “NULL”.    -   If input is neither “completely data” nor “completely NULL,” do        not transition output.

The transition of the output to a data value implies the completeness ofdata presentation at the input, the completeness of its resolution andthat the asserted output is the correct resolution of the presentedinput. The transition of the output to NULL implies the completeness ofNULL presentation at the input. This is called the completenesscriterion.

Boolean functions enhanced with completeness behavior, shown in FIG. 30,are no longer mathematical functions but now include a state holding orhysteresis behavior. A dash means that there is no value transform rulefor that name and hence no transition. The domain inversion will beexplained later. A logic using the NULL value and state-holding behaviorwill be called a NULL Convention Logic.

The Completeness Behavior of a Network of Enhanced Functions

The monotonic behavior of the data and the completeness behavior of eachoperator fully coordinates the order of events in a network ofassociated operators. The individual completeness behaviors accumulateso that the network as a whole expresses the completeness criterion.Consider the network of enhanced Boolean operators shown in FIG. 31.Divide the network arbitrarily into N ranks of operators orderedprogressively from input to output, with all inputs before the firstrank and all outputs after the last rank. The rank boundaries are shownin FIG. 31 with vertical lines labeled alphabetically in rank order frominput to output;

For the values crossing G to be all data, all of the values crossing Fmust be data.

For the values crossing F to be all data, all of the values crossing Emust be data.

For the values crossing E to be all data, all of the values crossing Dmust be data.

For the values crossing D to be all data, all of the values crossing Cmust be data.

For the values crossing C to be all data, all of the values crossing Bmust be data.

For the values crossing B to be all data, all of the values crossing Amust be data.

Therefore, for all the values after G to be data, all the values beforeA must be data. If any value before A is NULL, at least one value afterG will be NULL.

These considerations are also true for the NULL wavefront presented whenthe expression is in a “completely data” state. Simply interchange NULLand data in the text above.

During a data wavefront values transition monotonically from NULL todata as resolution progresses through the expression from input tooutput. If any value crossing a boundary is NULL, then there will be atleast one NULL value crossing all boundaries to the right of thatboundary. There can only be a complete set of output data values whenthere is a complete set of input data values and the data values havepropagated through the expression. There can only be a complete set ofoutput NULL values when there is a complete set of input NULL values andthe NULL values have propagated through the expression. The expressionas a whole expresses the completeness criterion. Completeness of theoutput implies completeness of the input. The output also maintains themonotonic transition behavior of the input.

The behavior of a wavefront propagating through the expression iscompletely determined. It does not matter when or in what order thevalues transition at the input of the expression. Nor does it matterwhat the delays might be internal to the expression. Consider the shadedfunction in FIG. 31. It does not matter how long the data values (NULLvalues) take to propagate through other operators and over signal pathsto the input of the shaded function, its output will not transitionuntil all values are data (NULL) at the input of the function. For eachwavefront, each function synchronizes its input and switches its outputexactly once to a correct value coordinating the orderly propagation ofa wavefront of monotonic transitions of correct result values throughthe expression until the output of the expression as a whole iscomplete. The orderly symbolic behavior of each individual functionaccumulates to orderly symbolic behavior of the whole, expressing thecompleteness criterion for the expression as a whole.

The behavior of the expression is fully determined in terms of symbolicbehavior. There is no explicit expression of control. There is noconsideration of timing relationships anywhere in the expression. Thereare no races, no hazards and no spurious result values. There is nonondeterministic behavior. There is no state space explosion. For agiven input there is only one possible partial ordering of operators.The behavior of the expression is deterministic, is repeatable, istestable and is trustable.

Ignoring the NULL Convention

Just as the directionalization convention could be ignored once thebuffering thengs and their behavior had been universally established, socan the NULL value and its behavior be ignored once the NULL conventionis universally established. The NULL function is identical and universalfor all operators and for all combinations of operators; when the inputis all NULL, the output becomes all NULL. Because of this universalitythe NULL behavior need not always be explicitly expressed. One canexpress primitive operators solely in terms of data value behaviors asin FIG. 32 a. The primitive operators can be directly substituted withNULL convention operators as in FIG. 32 b.

5.3.4 Summary of Discretization and Directionalization

With a simple conventions of value differentiation, the behavior ofassociated thengs can be directionalized and discretized. No newexpressional primitives have been postulated. A process expression isstill just associated thengs asserting values transforming according tovalue transform rules.

5.3.5 The Pure Association Expression

With directional and discrete behavior established according to theconventions of value differentiation, the pure association expressioncan now be presented. Pure association expression occurs when there isonly one data value, which will be called DATA, to express the meaningsof the process. With one data value, there can be no differentiation ofprocess meaning in terms of value. All differentiation of processmeaning is in terms of place in a structure of associationrelationships.

The Multi-Place Data Differentiation Convention

Differentnesses that were expressed by two or more data values must nowbe expressed by different places in a structure of associationrelationships. A variable that is commonly understood as a single uniqueplace that expresses multiple mutually exclusive meanings with multipleunique values must now be represented as multiple unique places in astructure of association relationships that mutually exclusively asserta single DATA value. A place either asserts its meaning by asserting theDATA value, or does not assert its meaning by asserting the NULL value.A binary variable is expressed as two places, place 1 and place 2, thatmutually exclusively express TRUE and FALSE. If place 1 asserts a DATAvalue, the meaning of the variable is TRUE. If place 2 asserts its DATAvalue the meaning of the variable is FALSE. It is illegal for bothplaces to assert a DATA value at the same time. If both places assertNULL then the variable is in its “not data” state. The binary variableis shown in FIG. 33.

A variable in its most general sense is a locus of mutually exclusiveassertion. In general, an M value variable can be represented with Mplaces only one of which will assert a DATA value in a given datawavefront. FIG. 34 shows several examples of multi-value variables; theillegal states are not shown.

For a data wavefront, each variable asserts exactly one DATA value.Completeness of the data wavefront is exactly one DATA value pervariable. For a NULL wavefront all asserted DATA values return to NULLand completeness for a NULL wavefront is all NULL values across allvariables.

Pure Association Operators are Threshold Operators

The NULL value, meaning ‘not data’, cannot enter into the formation andresolution of a data name. There is only one data value called DATA, sothere can be no combination of different data values. At the mostprimitive level of name formation, at a single place of association, theonly possible names that can form are combinations of DATA values. Theonly discriminable property available when combining DATA values is howmany DATA values are present. Therefore pure association primitiveoperations can be naturally viewed as threshold operations. Thefundamental question of each operator is whether sufficient DATA valuesare present to completely form its name. If sufficient DATA values arepresent, then the operator asserts its DATA value. If sufficient DATAvalues are not present, then the operator does not assert its DATAvalue.

A threshold operator will be represented with the graphic symbol shownin FIG. 35. The symbol expresses the directionality of the operator andthe number in the operator indicates the threshold of the operator. Thelines entering the rounded part of the operator indicates the number ofinput values. The operator shown is a 2 of 2 operator. The valuetransform rules for the operator are shown in FIG. 36.

Forming Names and Asserting Results

An example of a pure association expression is shown in FIG. 37 a. Itsinput is a three-value variable X and a two-value variable Y. Its outputis a four value variable Z. It adds a binary digit to a trinary digitand outputs a quaternary digit. For a data wavefront presented to theinput, there will be exactly one place of the X variable asserting DATAand one place of the Y variable asserting DATA. A name formed by the twovariables comprises exactly two DATA values. There are six formablenames and the inputs are associated with the 2 of 2 operators such thateach possible name is formed as the input of an operator. This rank ofoperators is the expression's internal representation of the formablenames and the expression of its search to recognize a presented name. Apresented name is recognized by one of the operators asserting a DATAvalue. For input names that assert an identical output behavior, thename recognitions are collected to a single place in the structure witha threshold 1 operator. For instance, the input names 02 and 11 assertthe same output behavior and are collected into the single behavior ofquaternary value 2.

It will be noticed that the names 01 and 10 are explicitly recognized.In the corresponding pure value expression shown in FIG. 37 b there isno way to tell 01 from 10. They are a single name. But in the pureassociation expression the 0s and 1s for each variable come fromdifferent places in the structure. 01 and 10 can be differentiated sothe formed names must be individually recognized.

The output expresses the completeness criterion and maintains themonotonic completeness behavior of the input. When one output valuebecomes DATA, the input is completely DATA and the output is the correctresolution of the presented input. When the output becomes all NULL theinput is all NULL.

General Threshold Operators

N of N operators and 1 of N operators can be merged to form more generalM of N operators. FIG. 38 shows a 1 of 2 operator merged into a 2 of 2operator to form a 2 of 4 operator with a weight of 2 for a. This leadsto a threshold logic of M of N operators with state holding behaviorwhich forms a general logic of pure association expression called twovalue NULL Convention Logic or 2NCL.

A Pure Association MUTEX

A pure association MUTEX will receive uncoordinated wavefronts on twopipelines, each propagating a single data value wavefront and allow themto pass one at a time mutually exclusively ushering them into the domainof coordinated wavefront behavior. The MUTEX shown in FIG. 39 is modeledas two paths composed of units of association with each pipeline brokenand a single theng reconnecting the two pipelines. The pipeline thengseach assert NULL and one non-NULL value. The connecting R theng assertsthree values: P means ready, Y means pass upper wavefront and Z meanspass lower wavefront. Theng F is a substituted A theng in the upperpipeline that appreciates the Y value asserted by theng R. To avoidambiguity theng F asserts T instead of X and theng H is a substitute Btheng that appreciates T and asserts S. Theng G substitutes for a Btheng in the lower pipeline and appreciates the Z value asserted bytheng R. The transform rules associated with theng R defines thebehavior for the MUTEX.

The flow of name formations and resolutions for theng R is shown in FIG.40. NNP[P] is the waiting state. If a D from the upper pipeline arrives,DNP[Y], it follows the progression on the left. If an X from the lowerpipeline arrives, NXP[Z], it follows the progression on the right. Forthe case where both arrive simultaneously there are two rules, DXP[Y]and DXP[Z]. Both are equally likely to occur. Theng R can only assertone value and one rule will prevail enabling the upper or lowerpipeline.

The chosen wavefront will be passed on by theng R asserting the enablingvalue for the pipeline. Theng R will continue to assert the enablingvalue until a NULL wavefront arrives on the chosen pipeline. Theng Rasserts P resetting for the next enabling. A wavefront that arrivesduring an enabling or the wavefront that lost the simultaneity contestwill wait until the chosen wavefront is completed with the arrival ofits NULL wavefront.

5.3.6 Association Expression Summary

In an association expression differentness is expressed by unique placein a structure of association relationships among operators. But if allassociated thengs behave identically in all directions, then there is noparticular uniqueness of place in the association structure. Uniquenessof place also depends on discrete and directed behavior among associatedthengs. Association relationships among thengs do not inherently expressdiscrete and directed behavior. Value differentiation conventions in theform of the unit of association and the NULL convention are required todirectionalize and discretize resolution behavior among the thengs.

Once the directionalizing and discretizing conventions are established,the pure association expression can be presented which uses a singleDATA value and hence no value differentiation. It was shown that thereexists an inherent logic of pure association expression: a thresholdlogic with state-holding behavior called two value NULL Convention Logic(2NCL).

No new concepts or expressional elements such as an explicit controlmechanism or timing relationships have been introduced. It is still justassociated thengs asserting values transforming according to valuetransform rules.

The Values of Pure Association Expression

The values of pure association expression, DATA and NULL, serve as amedium of place assertion and do not contribute to differentiation.Since they do not contribute to differentiation, it is not importantthat they all be the same two values as long as the values of eachoperator effectively perform the duty of asserting and not asserting itsplace in the association structure.

Concurrent Behavior

A discretized and directionalized association expression inherentlyexpresses fully coordinated distributed concurrent behaviors within theassociation structure.

The Temporal Nature of Pure Association Expression

There are still no inherent durations of behavior. But the succession ofwavefronts flowing through an association structure begin to provide arudimentary rhythm of time passing and of place in time. Each wavefrontis a present to itself. Wavefronts preceding it through the structureare in its past and wavefronts following it through the structure are inits future.

The Spatial Nature of Pure Association Expression

The association structure itself, extending in space, begins providing arudimentary referent of place in space.

5.4 The Spectrum of Expression

The two interpenetrating domains of differentiation form a spectrum ofexpression shown in FIG. 41 with pure value expression at one end andpure association expression at the other end. There must always be alittle bit of each domain in the expression of any process. There mustbe at least one place of association and there must be at least twovalues, one data value and one “not data” value.

In the center of FIG. 41 a process is defined as a symbolic functiontable. The input is two three-value variables that can form nine namesthat map to nine unique appreciation values. There are 15differentnesses and 9 possible names.

To the right is shown the pure association expression of the process.There are 15 unique places of association bounding the expression: 6input associations and 9 result associations. The rank of 9 operatorsrecognizes the 9 possible formed names. The values K and L are shown asthe presented input to be resolved.

To the left is shown the pure value expression of the process. There are15 unique values in the expression: 6 input values and 9 result values.The 9 value transform rules recognize the 9 possible formed names. Thevalues K and L are shown entering the bag to be resolved.

The two expressions are exact duals and each is mapped directly from thefunction table. In the pure value expression, differentiation isexpressed entirely in terms of values and value transform rules and inthe pure association expression, differentiation is expressed entirelyin terms of place in a structure of association relationships.

Association differentiation, on the right end of the spectrum, is therealm of human expression. There are few unique symbols, few interactionrules and large association structures. Humans are fond of simple valuedomains and complex association structures.

Value differentiation, on the left end of the spectrum, is theexpression realm of nature. There are lots of unique values, lots ofinteraction rules and very little association structure. There are 10130possible protein symbols and uncountable possible protein interactionrules. Nature is fond of simple association structures and complex valuedomains.

Along the spectrum lies varying proportions of value differentiation andof association differentiation. The cytoplasm is a pure valueexpression, but cell metabolism also involves a lot of associatedstructures within the cell. Neuron networks are largely structures ofassociation relationships but also involve hormone values and lots ofdifferent neurotransmitter values. Decimal arithmetic uses ten datavalues, DNA uses four data values and 2NCL expressions are pureassociation expressions using a single data value.

One domain of the spectrum can be held constant while the other domainis allowed free rein. A mathematical logic such as Boolean logic holdsthe values and value transform rules constant and allows arbitrarilycomplex association structures. All mammals have essentially a constantassociation structure with the same body design, organ structures andcell structures. The variability among mammals is a matter of proteinvalues expressed by DNA.

The spectrum of differentiation encompasses and conceptually unites manyforms of expression that previously appeared to be quite distinct or tobe only superficially related.

5.5 The Search

Process is a search to recognize patterns of differentness and assertbehavior appreciating the patterns of differentness.

5.5.1 Association Search

The pure association form of the full-adder expression shown in FIG. 42illustrates the search in terms of association differentiation. Inputdata values, C1=1, X=0 and Y=1 are presented as gray and NULL is black.

Each possible input name is explicitly recognized by a unique operatorand for each input presentation exactly one operator will be presentedwith complete input and will assert a data value recognizing thepresented input. Each presented data value is fanned out to eachoperator that recognizes a name to which it contributes. This fan-out isthe probe part of the search. There is only one operator to which allthree fan-outs associate. This is the success part of the search.

The recognizing operator asserts a data value, which then produces theoutput behavior appreciating the presented input. The associationconfiguration of the recognition operators is the internal expression ofthe possible names. The association of the operator assertion to theoutput behavior is the expression of the mapping of recognized name toits appreciation behavior.

5.5.2 Association Search Failures

The fan-out paths to the operators that do not achieve completeness arethe failed search probes, called orphans. These failed search pathsloose their logical relationships and a timing issue arises. An orphanpath must propagate strictly faster than the arrival of the nextwavefront. A discussion of orphans and how to isolate them can be foundin.

5.5.3 Value Search

In a pure value expression there are two forms of search. In one, allthengs are mutually associated and immediately form all possible names.The exhaustive association is the search and a formed name that invokesa value transform rule is the success of the search. In the other, allthengs are jumbling around in the shaking bag and eventually form allpossible names. The shaking is the search. The search is a success whenvalues form the name of and invoke a value transform rule.

In the shaking bag, if associated values do not form the name of a valuetransform rule, they just part company and continue their search. Asearch failure does not leave any dangling state such as an orphan thatneeds to be cleaned up. A pure value expression can be expressed withoutany consideration of time. In this sense the pure value expression canbe purely logically determined or delay insensitive, whereas a pureassociation expression has its orphans to consider.

5.5.4 The Value Transform Search

Nothing can be said of how a primitive theng performs its search,recognizes a presented name and invokes the appropriate value transformrule. It just happens.

5.6 Warp and Woof

Value differentiation and association differentiation are twointerpenetrating forms of differentiation, each requiring the context ofthe other to express differentness. Associated thengs cannot expressdifferentness without their values changing. Values cannot expressdifferentness by interacting and changing without being associated.

In the context of an association expression, an operator can beconsidered a value expression. Values transform in passing through theoperator. Theng A of the operator unit of association is a locus of purevalue expression and is the pure value expression responsible for thetransformation of the values.

The two domains of expression alternately serve as medium anddifferentness, mutually isolating and renewing each other, eachtranscending itself through the other. Each stage of association reusesvalue expression. Each stage of value expression creates new places thatcan be associated. FIG. 43 illustrates the alternation of expressionbetween value expression and association expression. Each alternationextends the expression of differentness, by small steps, to arbitrarycomplexity. The two domains of differentiation are the warp and woofweaving an arbitrarily complex tapestry of differentness and itsappreciation.

5.7 Summary

Process is differentness at play, endlessly appreciating itself. Uniquevalues transforming at a single place of association or thetransformation of common values flowing through places of association.Primitive concepts of expressing differentness were introduced: thengsthat can associate and assert one at a time of two or more values thatcan change according to value transform rules. No other concepts wereintroduced, no timing relationships, no explicit control, no explicitsequencing, no extended state space, no humans with pencils. No furtherconcepts will be introduced. These are sufficient.

Thengs associating and values interacting form two interpenetratingdomains of differentiation. Thengs can be different by virtue of aunique place in a structure of association relationships. Values can bedifferent by virtue of unique interaction relationships, with othervalues as expressed by the value transform rules. Differentness can beexpressed with different values at a single place or with a identicalvalues at different places.

The two interpenetrating domains of differentiation form a spectrum ofexpression from pure value at one end to pure association at the otherend. Along the spectrum the two domains of differentiation interweave invarious proportions. The spectrum unites forms of expression previouslyconsidered quite disparate, such as symbolic computation and biologicalprocesses. Within the invocation model, the expression of the behaviorof a living cell is not fundamentally different from the expression ofthe behavior of an artificial computer. They each express and appreciatedifferentness at different ends of the spectrum. Humans and nature aredoing fundamentally the same thing. They just go about it a littledifferently.

6 Along the Spectrum

A the two ends of the spectrum are pure value expression and pureassociation expression. In the interior of the spectrum are expressionswith various proportions of value differentiation and associationdifferentiation. This chapter discusses expression along the spectrum.

6.1 The Example Process

The baseline process is an arbitrary mapping of two inputs, each withthree differentnesses combining to form nine possible input namesmapping to nine unique appreciation behaviors. The empty table on theleft of FIG. 44 shows the structure of the process. The table will befilled in with expressions of differentness, as in the table on theright, at various places along the spectrum with discussions of thecorresponding expressions.

6.1.1 Place on the Spectrum

The place of an expression on the spectrum is determined by itsproportion of value differentiation and proportion of associationdifferentiation. The first example will jump into the middle of thespectrum with an extended discussion of expressing the baseline processwith four data values. Then expression with more available data valuesand expressions with fewer available data values will be considered.

6.1.2 Ignoring NULL

The NULL convention is a universal behavior and need not be explicitlyexpressed when symbolically expressing a process. The null conventioncan be formulaically added to the symbolic expression of the databehavior. The examples will assume the completeness criterion and willbe presented without reference to the NULL convention.

6.2 Four Available Data Values

Only four values (I, J, K, and L) are available to express the 15differentnesses of the process. It is assumed that the two inputs areisolated from each other by association and that the input is isolatedfrom the output by association. The differentnesses of the inputs can beexpressed with identical values and the output can be expressed with thesame values used for the input. The three differentnesses of each inputcan be expressed with three values, but the nine result differentnesseswill have to be expressed as a two value encoding. A mapping of fourvalues to express the differentnesses of the baseline process is shownin FIG. 45. The process receives two input values A and B and generatestwo output values X and Y.

6.2.1 Name Recognition

The first task of any expression is to recognize a presented name. Theremust be a means of matching a presented name to an internalrepresentation of the recognizable names and a means of that internalrepresentation generating the appropriate appreciation behavior for therecognized name.

One way to recognize the nine possible names is with a unique operatorthat recognizes each name. However, name recognition can be expressedmore generally for any number of values and any set of names with justtwo generic operators: an operator that recognizes one standard name andan operator that can transform any name into the standard name byrotating values.

The Equality Operator

The equality operator recognizes a single name. If it is presented withits recognition name, it will output a value that can be understood tomean True, or I have recognized my name. If it is presented with anyother name it will output a value that can be understood to mean False,or I have not recognized my name. The recognition name and the True andFalse values can be arbitrarily assigned. FIG. 46 shows a four-valueequality operator with the recognition name of LL, a True value of L anda False value of I.

If the presented name is LL, the operator outputs L. If the presentedname is anything else, the operator outputs 1.

The Rotation Operator

With the rotation operator any presented name can be transformed intothe standard recognition name, in this case LL. Each application of therotation operator transforms the input value to a rotational neighborvalue. Any value can be transformed into any other value with one ormore applications of the rotate operator. The four-value rotationoperator is shown in FIG. 47.

The value I can be transformed to the value L with three rotations. Theexample of FIG. 48 transforms the name IJ into the name LL. Only thename IJ will rotate to LL. If the result is not LL, then the presentedname was not IJ.

The Name Recognition Expression

The nine possible input names can each now be recognized with nineequality transforms. The input OF the expression is rotated differentlyfor presentation to each equality operator. Each equality operator withits rotated inputs recognizes a unique input name. The expression, shownin FIG. 49, will recognize which of the nine possible input names ispresented.

Only one equality operator will be presented with LL and will output L,recognizing the presented input name. The other eight equality operatorswill not be presented with LL, will not recognize their names and willoutput I. This expression of rotate and equality operators expresses thesearch to determine which name is presented to the expression. Thestructure of rotate operators associated to the nine equality operatorsis the internal representation of the nine possible names. The singleassertion of L is the internal recognition of a presented name andgenerates the appreciation behavior of the expression.

Name recognition can be more efficiently expressed if, instead ofrotating at the input of each equality operator, each rotate sequence isperformed once for each input and the rotated values fanned out to theappropriate equality operators, as shown in FIG. 50. The equality nameis arbitrary and can be chosen for expressional efficiency. In thiscase, if the equality name were KK then six rotates could be eliminated.

6.2.2 Appreciation Behavior

The recognition of the presented name generates the appreciationbehavior associated with the recognized name. In this case theappropriate behavior is the assertion of two output values. The one Lvalue from the equality operators must cause the assertion of thecorrect output values and then deliver the asserted value to theappropriate output.

The Assertion Operator

The assertion operator, shown in FIG. 51, asserts a specified value orasserts a default value. Setting one input to a constant value specifiesthe assertion value. The other input is the output of an equalityoperator. If the other input is the TRUTH value, in this case L, thenthe specified value is output, iF the other input is a FALSE value, inthis case I, then a default value is output. In the latter case, I isassigned as the default value. It is convenient for the FALSE value andthe default value to be identical.

The Priority Operator

Once the appropriate recognition value is asserted it must be deliveredto the appropriate output. The priority operator, shown in, passes thedefault value, in this case I, unless one input is a higher prioritynondefault value in which case the operator passes the higher prioritynondefault value. A tree of priority operators with all inputs defaultvalues except one, which may be a nondefault value, will propagate thenondefault value to the root of the tree. If there is no nondefaultvalue the default value, will propagate to the root.

The input of the tree of priority operators is the nine assertionoperators. These operators will all generate I except for one, which mayassert a higher priority value or may assert I.

Asserting the Output

The generation of the Y output value is shown in FIG. 53. A single Lvalue will cause an assertion operator to assert the appropriate outputvalue that is collected through the tree of priority operators to assertthe final Y output.

All of the result values do not need to be explicitly generated. Thetruth value is already an L value, so it can be used directly withoutpassing through an assertion operator. For the case where the outputvalue is I, it need not be explicitly asserted at all. All the otherrecognition values will be asserting I into the priority tree. I is thedefault value and the collected output will be I without it beingexplicitly presented to the tree. FIG. 54 shows the generation of the Youtput explicitly asserting only J and K.

Since L is a higher priority value, all the Ls that will assert aspecific value can be priority collected before the assertion of thespecific value. There only needs to be one explicit assertion of eachvalue for each output. FIG. 55 shows the collection of all the TRUTHvalues that will generate K or J before presenting them to assertionoperators to actually generate the values K or J.

6.2.3 The Complete Expression

The complete expression that recognizes a presented input name andgenerates the appropriate output values for X and Y is shown in FIG. 56.With the NULL convention coordination all operators will transitiontwice per name recognition for 74 transitions. For timed coordinationwithout the NULL convention there will be 17 to 22 transitions perinput. All twelve rotates will transition. One recognition willtransition. There will be three or four transitions to assert X and one,four or five transitions to assert Y. With four values there is a 25%chance that each operator will be in the appropriate state and nottransition, so the transitions for a timed expression will be 75% of 17to 22 or 12.75 to 16.5 transitions. The transitioning of the clock isnot considered.

6.2.4 Correspondence with Boolean Logic

The correspondence of the four-value operators with the familiar Booleanlogic operators is shown in FIG. 57

Binary inversion is the Boolean version of the rotate operator. The ANDoperator is the Boolean version of the equality operator with a standardrecognition name of 11. TRUE is 1 and FALSE is 0. The OR operator is theBoolean version of the priority operator that passes the default value,0, unless overridden by the higher priority nondefault value, 1. Sincethere is only one nondefault value which is the same as the TRUE valueasserted by the AND operator, there is no need for an explicit assertoperator to assert multiple nondefault values.

6.3 A Universal Four-Value Operator

In Boolean logic there are two universal operators, NAND and NOR, thatcan mimic the other functions and that are each sufficient to completelyexpress Boolean processes. Is it possible to express a single four-valueoperator capable of mimicking the behavior of the four operators:rotate, equality, assert, and priority? And is it sufficient tocompletely express any four-value process?

Because a large number of convention choices are available, such as whatthe rotation sequence will be, what the TRUE and FALSE values will be,what the DEFAULT value will be, and what the standard recognition namewill be, there can be many different configurations of operatorsproviding a certain amount of flexibility in the configuration of auniversal operator. The operator shown in FIG. 58 was arrived at withlittle effort and will be the focus of the discussion.

The primary difficulty with a universal operator is the need to performvalue rotation. This means that the result values of all operators arealways rotated and the mapping of values to meanings in the expressionare always becoming skewed. In a Boolean logic circuit expressed withNAND gates, for instance, if one logic stage is interpreted in terms ofpositive logic, the next logic stage will be interpreted in termsnegative logic. With multi-value expressions, the mapping of meaning tovalues, for example, which value represents TRUE, will rotate through asmany stages as there are values

For the present four-value example, the result values will simply berotated between operations to maintain a constant mapping of value tomeaning and a simple correspondence with the previous examples. Thepurpose here is simply to show that a universal operator is possible.The first step is to show how it mimics each of the four operators.

6.3.1 The Rotate Operator

Setting one input to a constant I will cause the other input will berotated. The behavior of the universal operator is limited to one row orone column. The rotate mapping is shown in FIG. 59.

6.3.2 The Equality Operator

II is chosen as the recognition name, so for all name recognition stagesthe input values will be rotated to the II name. The name II will resultin an L, and all other names will result in a non L. This establishesthe logic conventions that L is TRUE and non L is FALSE. The universalequality operator is shown in FIG. 60.

6.3.3 The Assertion Operator

One input of the operator is set to a constant value. The other valuefrom the equality operators will be L or a non-L value. The L value willbe rotated so that it becomes an I value. If the rotated value is I, theoperator will assert the value specified by the constant value input;otherwise, the operator will assert the default value I.

Since the operator is going to assert a rotated result value, theconstant input value must be set to the value in the rotation orderbefore the desired result value. For instance, a constant K will resultin the operator asserting a J. FIG. 61 shows an assert configuration toassert the result value J.

6.3.4 The Priority Operator

There are only I's and the single asserted result value, which itselfmight be an I, presented to the result collection priority tree. Eachpriority collection stage has either II or I and non I presented to it.If II is presented, the asserted result value will be L. If a non Ivalue is presented, the result value will be the rotation neighbor ofthe non-I value. Rotating the result value three times will convert theL into I or the rotated assertion value back into the actual assertionvalue. Thus each priority operator has three rotates on its resultvariable, as shown in FIG. 62.

6.3.5 The Four-Value Expression with the Universal Operator

The expression with the universal transform is shown in FIG. 63. Onlythe Y output is shown. The X output is expressed with a tree ofassertion operators and priority operators just like the Y output.Optimization of the output generation is not considered.

6.4 The Expressivity of Operators

If the internal buffering associations are ignored, a primitive operatorcan be thought of as a pure value expression expressed as a set of valuetransform rules. More expressive operators means that there is moreexpression in terms of value differentiation and that less expressionwill be required in terms of association differentiation. Lessexpressive operators means that more differentiation in terms ofassociation will be required.

Consider the availability of four equality operators that each asserts adifferent TRUTH value. Each equality operator could assert its outputvalue directly. The assertion operators would not be needed and could beeliminated from the expression. The value differentiation is slightlyincreased and the association differentiation is slightly diminished. Ifa set of equality operators were available that each directly recognizeda different input name, then the rotate operators could be eliminatedfrom the expression. Again, the value differentiation is increased andthe association differentiation is diminished.

6.5 Six Available Data Values

With six available data values the form of the encoding and the form ofthe expression remains identical to the form of the four-valueexpression. Each input can be represented with one value and each outputmust be represented with two values. With six values, however, there isa great deal more wasted value differentiation than with four values.

6.6 Nine Available Data Values

With nine values available the result values need no longer be encodedin two variables. The entire process can be expressed as a singleoperator shown in FIG. 64.

It appears that no association relationships are needed. However, thesame values are used for both inputs and the output, so the expressionmust be an operator that isolates the values of the inputs and thevalues of the output with internal buffering associations.

6.7 Fifteen Available Data Values: Pure Value Expression

With 15 values the process can be fully differentiated in terms ofvalue. The expression becomes a pure value expression. There is nolonger a need to isolate the input from the output so no associationoperator needs to be involved. Given the mapping of the symbols to theprocess on the left of FIG. 65, the pure value expression of the processis just the set of value transform rules shown on the right. The valuetransform rule names are not ordered. IL is also LI.

6.8 Three Available Data Values

With only three values available, shown in FIG. 66, the two inputmeanings can be differentiated with one variable each, and the resultmeanings can be expressed with two variables. The three-value expressionwill have the same form as the four-value expression but the operatorswill be simpler.

Three values are an optimal number for this process in that no valuedifferentiation is wasted. With four values there were several namesthat could be formed that were not used. With six values there were evenmore unused names. With three values all possible value combinations forboth the input names and the results are used. This is the only exampleon the internal spectrum that exhibits fully efficient valuedifferentiation.

6.9 Two Available Data Values

With only two values available, it becomes necessary to encode eachinput with two values and each result with four values as shown in FIG.67. The left shows the mapping with the letters of the previous examplesand the right table shows the mapping with the more familiar 1 and 0.

FIG. 68 shows the complete two-value expression of the example processwith Boolean operators. Since the input name 0000 outputs all defaultvalues 0000, it does not need to be explicitly recognized. The defaultvalues from all the other recognition operators will output the defaultvalues when 0000 is presented. With NULL convention coordination everyoperator will transition twice for 54 transitions. With timedcoordination there will be thirteen transitions per input. All fourinverters will transition, two first rank recognitions will transitionand one final recognition will transition. There will be two transitionseach to assert X, Y and Z. With two values there is a 50% chance thateach operator will be in the appropriate state and not transition, sothe transitions for a timed expression will 50% of 13 or 6.5transitions. The transitioning of the clock is not considered.

If the rank of recognition gates had four inputs each, then each namecould be recognized directly, and the first rank of gates could beeliminated. Again, with operators with more value differentiation, lessassociation differentiation is needed.

6.10 One Available Data Value

With only one data value to express data meanings an expression becomesa pure association expression expressed in NULL Convention Logic. Thereis no differentiation in terms of value. All differentiation is in termsof association. The pure association expression which directlyimplements the behavior of the process is shown in FIG. 69. The placesin the expression are labeled with the symbols of the fifteen valuemapping to show the correspondence of the expressions.

The fifteen-value example is the pure value expression at one end of thespectrum and the one-value example is the pure association expression atthe other end of the spectrum. The two expressions are exact duals andboth directly express the example process defined by FIG. 44.

6.11 Summary

Several examples of the expression of a baseline process at variouspoints on the spectrum of differentiation have been presented. The firstexample was limited to four data values and four operators with the bulkof the differentiation in terms of association relationships. The basicmethods of name recognition and appreciation assertion were discussed inthe context of this expression. It was also shown that there is auniversal four-value operator and that there can be a universal operatorfor any set of values.

With nine data values there was sufficient value differentiation thatthe process could be expressed as a single operator. With fifteen datavalues the process could be expressed as a pure value expression.Examples were shown with three values, two values and finally one datavalue that was the pure association expression of the process. Theexamples are shown in relation to the spectrum in FIG. 70.

The spectrum is not a continuum but is discrete. Values, value transformrules and associations exist in units. There cannot be half a value,half a value transform rule or half an association. Hence the operators,as compositions of value transform rules, exist in units and areassociated in units. The spectrum is punctuated with peaks and valleysof various efficiencies and inefficiencies. Considering just the valuedifferentiation, Table 6.1 characterizes the efficiency of expressionamong the examples. Clock and register transitions are not considered inthe table for the transitions associated with timed coordination oftransitions.

Transition Example Possible Actual Unused Behaviors Data DifferentnessesDifferentnesses Differentiation NULL/ values in/in/out in/in/outin/in/out= timed One 3/3/9 3/3/9 0/0/0 = 0  2/NA Two 4/4/16 3/3/9 1/1/7= 9 54/6.5 Three 3/3/9 3/3/9 0/0/0 = 0 74/ 12.75-16.5 Four 4/4/16 3/3/91/1/7 = 9 74/ 12.75-16.5 Six 6/6/36 3/3/9 3/3/27 = 33 74/ 12.75-16.5Nine 9/9/9 3/3/9 6/6/0 = 12  2/0.89 Fifteen 3/3/9 3/3/9 0/0/0 = 0  1/NAValue differentiation efficiencies of the example expressions.

At the two ends of the spectrum there is no unused differentiation. Themost wasteful example expression is with six values. Next most wastefulis nine values and then two values and four values. Three values is themost efficient representation in the middle of the spectrum.

In the examples it is assumed that the NULL convention will be appliedby substituting NULL convention operators for the functional operators.The operators of the expression become more complex and the transitionbehavior dramatically increases. But consider what happens with theone-value pure association expression that is more efficient in everyaspect than all the other association expressions. There are fewer andsimpler operators and less transition behavior. The 15-value pure valueexpression is also more efficient in terms of transitions than all theother expressions.

A particular process embodies a characteristic quantity ofdifferentiation. The expression of the process may be purely in terms ofvalue differentiation, purely in terms of association differentiation ora collaboration of the two. Expressions in the middle territory tend tobe more complex than the pure forms of expression, due to encodingdifferentness with a combination of value differentiation andassociation differentiation. The result is that the expressions arecontinually de-encoding to pure association to recognize names and thenre-encoding the recognition to assert the results. This can be mostdramatically seen with the two-value example expression. The four-bitinput name is de-encoded to a pure association representation (9 uniqueplaces, in the middle of the expression) and then re-encoded into a fourbit representation. Encoding differentness with two values or ten valuesdoes not always lead to the most efficient expressions of process. Allprocesses, however, are efficiently expressed at the two ends of thespectrum where an expression can match exactly the differentiationrequired by any process with minimal transition behavior.

7 Composing Boundaries

The previous two chapters discussed how expressional primitivesassociate and collaborate to express a greater stride of appreciationthat recognizes and appreciates more differentness than any individualprimitive could recognize. A pure value expression with a set of valuetransform rules can recognize and appreciate larger and more numerousformed names than any individual value transform rule. A structure ofassociated operators can recognize and appreciate larger and morenumerous formed names than any individual operator. These greaterexpressions form behavior boundaries with their appreciation behavior.There is an input boundary that receives a presented name to appreciateand there is an output boundary through which appreciation behavior isasserted. These greater expressions can be further composed into evengreater expressions with greater strides of appreciation ofdifferentness by associating output boundaries to input boundaries.

This chapter discusses the composition of behavior boundaries to expressa greater stride of appreciation. The discussion will be initially interms of association expression. There can also be boundaryrelationships within a pure value expression that will be discussed.

7.1 Boundaries of Completeness Behavior

The completeness criterion is expressed between the input and outputboundaries of an expression, promising orderly deterministic behaviorfrom input boundary to output boundary. When two expressions arecomposed, output boundary to input boundary, an internal mutualcompleteness boundary is formed between the two expressions. The newgreater expression also expresses the completeness criterion from itsnew input boundary to its new output boundary.

7.2 Association Boundaries

Consider the binary full-adder of FIG. 71 that takes three binary inputsand asserts two binary outputs. The full-adder is bounded by inputs CI,X and Y and outputs S and CO.

Consider that the full-adder is composed of two three input expressions;S and C as in FIG. 71. S outputs the sum and C outputs the carry. Eachexpression has its own input and output boundary. If S and C express thecompleteness criterion, then their boundaries compose to express thecompleteness criterion for the full-adder.

Consider that three input expressions are not available but only twoinput expressions are available. FIG. 72 shows the full-adder in termsof two input NULL Convention Boolean functions. Each function is boundedand expresses the completeness criterion. Again, the completenessrelations of the boundaries of the functions accumulate so that thefull-adder input and output boundaries are completeness boundaries. Theboundary of the full-adder encompasses the boundaries of the functionsand appreciates a greater range of differentness than any functionindividually.

Consider that the XOR is not available and only AND, OR and NOT areavailable; the expression might look like FIG. 74. Again, thecompleteness boundaries of the functions accumulate so that theboundaries of the full-adder are completeness boundaries.

In FIG. 74 the full-adder is expressed in terms of two half-adders. Theboundaries of the half-adders shown in FIG. 75 added as internalboundaries are completeness boundaries also. The boundaries of any subnetwork will be completeness boundaries. While all boundaries definedwithin the greater network of primitive operators are arbitrary, somemight seem less arbitrary than others. Internal boundaries are usuallydefined for convenience of expression.

Consider that only two-value NULL Convention Logic operators areavailable. The 2NCL pure association expression corresponding to thefull-adder of FIG. 75 is shown in FIG. 76. The two expressions have thesame boundary structure.

All expressions of a process are not identically partitionable. Theminterm expression of FIG. 77 expresses the same full-adder process butits boundary structure is quite different.

7.3 Pure Value Boundaries

Consider that there are no operators at all but there are lots of valuesand value transform rules. The full-adder of FIG. 74 can be mappeddirectly into a pure value expression. The Boolean logic expression usesunique places within the association expression and two unique symbols,0 and 1, to represent unique differentnesses within the expression. The0 or 1 on this association path is different from the 0 or 1 on thatassociation path. In FIG. 78 each association path is mapped into twounique symbols, one representing a 0 symbol on the path and onerepresenting a 1 symbol on the path.

The mapping for symbols C, D, E and F are shown below.

C means X=0

D means X=1

E means Y=0

F means Y=1 and so on for each path in the circuit.

The value transform rules for resolving each locus of interactioncorresponding to each operator are derived from the symbols associatedwith each operator. The derivation of the value transform rules for theoperator surrounded by O, P, Q, R, W and X is shown in FIG. 79.

The resulting set of derived value transform rules are shown on the leftside of FIG. 80. A pure value expression is structured by relationshipsamong the value transform rules and can have the same boundaries as anassociation expression. In a pure value expression a completenessboundary is a locus of mutually exclusive assertion. At the input, onlyone of C or D will be asserted. Further in, only one of U or V will beasserted and so on. In the association expression of FIG. 78 mutualexclusivity is expressed with the paths (wires) that can only assert onevalue at a time of two possible values. In the pure value expression themutual exclusivity is explicitly expressed in the value transform rules.If mutual exclusivity is expressed in the presentation of the input ofthe expression, it will be maintained through the resolution andexpressed at the output of the expression. The completeness boundariesof the derived pure value expression coincide with the loci of mutualexclusivity. Completeness boundaries identical to the boundaries in FIG.75 are shown on the right side of FIG. 80.

FIG. 81 shows the progression of resolution for input values B (1), C(0) and F (1) that is equivalent to the binary name 101 resolving to asum of s (0) and a carry of v (1) as a progression of populations ofsymbols in a shaking bag. In each population of values only certainassociations form a name of a value transform rule which are showncircled. The value transform rules involved in each resolution stagethat assert the values of the succeeding population are shown above thearrows. The completeness boundaries of the resolution progression areshown also as encompassing ovals.

The population of values at each stage of resolution is unique. There isno ambiguity of association or interaction at any stage of theresolution. The spontaneous individual behavior of indiscriminatelyassociating values reliably and unambiguously resolves to a correctresult. The progression of behavior is identical to the progression ofbehavior of the association expression of FIG. 75.

While completeness boundaries can exist among the behaviors of a purevalue expression, it may not be a sensible form of pure valueexpression. A pure value expression is capable of exhaustive globalassociation and breaking the association of values into progressivesteps defeats this expressivity. The example of FIG. 72 can be expressedas a pure value expression below using the same value assignments forinput and output shown in FIG. 78 and using three-value transform rulenames. The expression resolves with two concurrent behaviors, and fewervalues and value transform rules are required.

ACE[s,u] ACF[t,u] ADE[t,u] ADF[s,v]

BCE[t,u] BCF[s,v] BDE[s,v] BDF[t,v]

7.4 Greater Composition

Full-adders can be composed via their boundaries into a multi-bitripple-carry adder. A new completeness boundary is formed about theripple-adder. The previous boundaries about the full-adder and internalto the full-adder remain intact. A four-bit adder and its boundaries areshown in FIG. 82. The ripple-adders can be composed into multipliers,dividers and so forth. Indefinitely complex expressions can be composedwith bigger networks of association composition.

An appreciation stride can be attributed to each boundary. Each Booleanfunction can appreciate two differentnesses among four input names. Eachfull-adder can appreciate four differentnesses among eight input names.The four-bit adder can appreciate 32 differentnesses among 512 inputnames.

7.5 Summary

Larger expressions with a greater stride of appreciation can be composedby associating the boundaries of lesser expressions with lesser stridesof appreciation. When behavior boundaries are composed their behaviormust be coordinated. The primitive form of coordination is thecompleteness criterion that can be expressed with the NULL conventionfor association expressions and that can be expressed directly with thevalue transform rules for pure value expressions. The binary full-adderhas sufficed to illustrate the first-order composition of completenessboundaries, the variety of possible boundary structures and thecoordinated behavior of the composed boundaries.

7.6 Coordinating Boundaries

While the composition of completeness boundaries is concurrent, thebehavior of each boundary is strictly sequential. Only one inputpresentation at a time can flow through an input boundary and into anexpression. There must be a presentation of empty or NULL between eachpresentation of data content. The monotonic behavior of the content flowmust be maintained, the content must be maintained and the liveness ofthe flow must be maintained. Again, there is a simple convention forhumans that accomplishes the purpose.

The completeness criterion states that when there is completeness at theoutput boundary the resolution of the input is complete. Thecompleteness criterion can be used to coordinate the presentation ofinput and the flow of resolution through an expression.

7.7 The Cycle

The fact of completeness of the output can be domain inverted andassociated back to the input to coordinate the presentation of theinput. Domain inversion shown on the right in FIG. 83 is a NULLconvention primitive that transitions a data value to NULL and NULL to aselected data value, in this case T. This feedback coordination value,also called acknowledge, is associated from the output to a rank ofinput primitives called a registration stage as shown in FIG. 83. Whenthe output is completely data, the coordination value transitions toNULL. When the output is completely NULL, the coordination valuetransitions to data.

Only when the input values presented to the registration stage are data,and the coordination value is data, will the output of the registrationstage transition to data and present a data wavefront to the encompassedexpression. As long as the coordination value remains data, theregistration stage will stably maintain its output data values even if aNULL wavefront is presented to the input of the registration stage.

Only when the input values presented to the registration stage are NULLvalues and the coordination value is NULL, will the output of theregistration stage transition to NULL and present a NULL wavefront tothe encompassed expression. As long as the coordination value remainsNULL, the registration stage will stably maintain its NULL output valueseven if a data wavefront is presented to the input of the registrationstage.

The feedback association of the inverted coordination value is a simpledependency relationship that forms a closed oscillating expressioncalled a cycle. The expression continually strives to transition betweendata and NULL. Not only does the cycle provide coordination of inputpresentation for an expression, it provides an autonomous expression ofliveness.

7.8 Flow Coordination

Flow of presentation of input and assertion of output betweenexpressions can be coordinated through associated completenessboundaries by interlinking the self-coordination cycles of theassociated expressions, as shown in FIG. 84. If completeness of a sourceexpression is determined strictly after presentation is allowed by thedestination expression, then no expression will allow a next inputpresentation until its current asserted output is accepted by thedestination. Wavefronts flow spontaneously and stably from cycle tocycle.

Interlinked cycles form a structure of coupled oscillators, whichexpresses a spontaneously behaving pipeline structure. Large complexpipeline structures can be expressed in terms of interlinked cycles.

7.9 Integrated Coordination

There does not need to be a separate expression of a registration stage.The expression of registration can be integrated into the logicexpression itself as shown in FIG. 85. The input and output operatorsreceive one more input which is the coordination signal. A singleoperator is added to coordinate the topmost input path of theexpression.

7.10 Level of Coordination

A composition boundary is also a partitioning boundary, a completenessboundary and a coordination boundary. Hierarchical levels of nestedboundaries can be defined within a large expression such as the four-bitadder of FIG. 82. Cycle coordination can be applied to all boundaries ofcommensurate hierarchical level within an expression. The hierarchicallevels of the four-bit adder will be called the data path level for thefour-bit data path for the boundaries of the four-bit adder, theintermediate level for the boundaries of the full-adders and theprimitive level for the boundaries of the primitive operators.

7.11 Data Path Level Cycle Coordination

FIG. 86 shows the four-bit adder with cycle coordination about itsboundary. Other four-bit adders and other four-bit expressions can becomposed as interlinked cycles into a spontaneously behaving pipelinestructure, with its flow coordinated at the level of a four-bit datapath.

FIG. 87 shows the flow of successive data and NULL assertions from theoutput of the coordinated four-bit adder. The shading indicates relatedbits of each successive presentation.

A data wavefront will propagate all the way through the four-bit adderexpression. When the output of the four-bit adder is complete a NULLwavefront will be allowed and will propagate all the way through thefour-bit adder until the output is completely NULL, at which point anext data presentation will be allowed to propagate.

7.12 Intermediate Level Cycle Coordination

The feedback coordination might be applied at the level of thefull-adder boundaries, as shown in FIG. 88. The four-bit adder is now apipeline of four one-bit adders.

The expression is no longer explicitly coordinated at the four-bit levelbut is coordinated at the bit level. The boundary of the four-bit adderis now above the hierarchical level of cycle coordination. How does theboundary of the four-bit adder coordinate? Because of the carry valueeach successive full-adder has to wait on the carry of the previousfull-adder. SUM0 will be completed and propagated first. SUM1 will becompleted and propagate slightly later, and so on. The output of thefour-bit adder will be skewed across the data path as shown in FIG. 89.

While it is clear how an expression encompassed by a cycle iscoordinated in terms of the completeness criterion, it is less clear howthe un-encompassed expression boundaries at levels above thehierarchical level of cycle coordination are coordinated. For the Nthpresentation to the input of the four-bit adder there will be Nth SUM0and Nth SUM1 an Nth SUM2, and so on. The Nth SUM0 will be followed by anNth NULL, which will be followed by the Nth+1 SUM0 for the Nth+1 inputpresentation. The same occurs with the other outputs. Each data outputis aligned in sequence and separated by NULL. The successive datapresentation wavefronts are not temporally or spatially aligned, butthey are logically aligned with NULL wavefronts. The boundary of thefour-bit adder is coordinated in terms of logical successionrelationships.

Primitive Level Cycle Coordination

Each primitive expression is also bounded and can be coordinated withcycle coordination, as shown in FIG. 90. Each full-adder is a pipelineof primitives, and the four-bit adder is now a fairly complex pipelineof primitives.

Now all the higher level boundaries are above the level of cyclecoordination. The flow behavior is shown in FIG. 91. The cycle periodsof the primitive cycles is shorter, so the successive presentations arequicker making the throughput higher. The pipelining did not speed upthe carry propagation, so the presentations in the data path are skewedat a shallower angle. The logical coordination of NULL, in separatingeach Nth data wavefront on the data path, still prevails.

If the input to the four-bit adder is skewed such that each inputarrives just in time to meet the propagating carry, then the skewedpresentations flow right through the four-bit adder with much higherthroughput than was the case when cycle coordination was at the four-bitlevel. A whole system can be constructed with skewed data pathpresentations flowing through the system with much higher throughputthan higher level cycle coordination will allow. These skewedpresentation behaviors of the data path can get quite ragged in terms oftime and space and still be fully coordinated in terms of logicalsequence. What can appear very chaotic from a spatial or temporal viewis quite orderly from a logical view.

7.12.1 Recovering Temporal and Spatial Alignment

The temporal and spatial alignment can be recovered by demanding logicalcompletion across the data path. If completeness is demanded withoutconsidering the skew behavior of the data path all the throughputadvantage can be lost, as shown in FIG. 92. The leading presentationshave to wait on the lagging presentations slowing the entire pipeline.

The full throughput advantage can be maintained if the leadingpresentations are given room in the data path to wait on the laggingpresentation. This can be accomplished with a triangle buffer, which iswider in terms of buffering cycles at one end than at the other to givethe leading presentations room to wait. The easiest way to understandthe behavior is to consider the completion demand as being spatiallyskewed in the data path to match the skew of the flow, as shown in FIG.93. The upper pipelines of the triangle buffer are longer in terms ofcycles than the lower pipelines.

The skewed demand for completeness realigns flow temporally andspatially while retaining the throughput of the expression. Thisrealigned flow can then be presented to a clocked interface, written tomemory or presented to higher level coordination protocols.

Any expression can be cycle coordinated at the level of primitives,forming a large complex pipeline. Data wavefronts can flow through thispipeline structure at very high throughput, with skewed and raggedtemporal and spatial alignment but with completely determined logicalcoordination. Whenever necessary, spatial and temporal alignment can bereconstituted from the logical coordination of the data path.

7.12.2 Generating Skewed Wavefront Flow

Skewed wavefront flow can also be generated from temporally andspatially aligned wavefront flow with an inverted triangle buffer, asshown in FIG. 94. The inverted triangle buffer can be used to presentwavefronts from a synchronous input into a system of skewed wavefrontflow.

7.12.3 Composing Coordination

Coordination of flow and its composition is hierarchical also. Once aprimitive expression of coordination is established, higher levels ofcoordination compose in terms of the primitive coordination. In thissection the primitive coordination is the NULL convention. The cyclecomposes from the behavior of the NULL convention. Higher levels ofcoordination derive from the logical behavior of the cycle. Spatial andtemporal alignment can be recovered at the level of the four-bit adder,which can then be composed to coordination protocols throughcommunication channels and memories, and so forth.

7.12.4 Nature's Coordination

The completeness boundaries and the feedback coordination cyclepresented here are simple conventions for human consumption. Theinverted acknowledge is a simple dependency relationship to keepwavefronts from colliding. The expressivity of nature is more free formand opportunistic than the formal mentality of humans, and there can bemore complex dependency relationships that separate wavefronts ofbehavior and involve more disjoint value sets. There is no reason whythere cannot be multiple disjoint value sets, each expressing datameaning as well as coordination meaning with data paths and coordinationfeedback paths much more complexly intertwined, less distinctlyhierarchical and less distinctly cyclical.

7.12.5 Partitioning the Network

Composing greater association expressions by directly associatingboundaries of lesser association expressions makes larger and largernetworks of association relationships. This network is a structure ofcomposition boundaries that can be viewed in many ways in relation toits boundaries. Each composition boundary is also a partitioningboundary, a completeness boundary and a coordination boundary. Thebehavior of every boundary has to be coordinated one way or another.FIG. 95 shows a network and its composition boundaries.

7.12.6 Completeness Boundaries and Concurrent Behavior

Each level of composition forms a new boundary that encompasses theboundaries of the component expressions resulting in a hierarchicalstructure of nested levels of boundaries. Each new boundary is composedof multiple lesser boundaries.

While the behavior of a boundary itself is strictly sequential, thecomponent boundaries can behave concurrently in relation to each other.These boundaries in turn decompose into lesser boundaries that canbehave concurrently in relation to each other. As boundaries decomposedown the hierarchy, concurrent behavior proliferates.

The four-bit adder receives one pair of four-bit number wavefronts at atime. These wavefronts are decomposed into four pairs of one-bit numbersand presented concurrently to four full-adders. Each full-adderdecomposes the pair of one bit numbers and a carry into individualdigits and presents them concurrently to its internal logic functions.

7.12.7 Hierarchical Partitioning

A network can be partitioned along commensurate hierarchical boundaries.The network of FIG. 95 can be partitioned at level 1 boundaries, asshown in FIG. 96. The level 1 boundary is expressed in both partitions.The greater partition, levels 1, 2 and 3 retain the expression of thelevel 1 association relationships. The lesser partition, levels 0 and 1,lose the level 1 association relationships and the lesser partitionbecomes an unassociated collection of level 1 expressions. Therelationship between the greater partition and the lesser partitionmight be maintained with a reference mechanism such as the letters inFIG. 96.

One might compare and sort the unassociated level 1 expressions and findthat there are only four different types of expression. The greaterpartition can now be expressed in terms of reference to type of level 1expression, as shown in FIG. 97 instead of in terms of reference tospecific level 1 expressions.

This raises the possibility of there being only one instantiation ofeach level 1 expression. As the greater partition resolves, it candynamically compose level 1 expressions by type reference from thesparse set of instantiated level 1 expressions. A conventional computerwith its ALU, large memory and sequence controller is a mechanism torealize such dynamic composition. The greater partition is the programand the lesser partition is the ALU.

An expression might be partitioned at multiple hierarchical levels tomap into different implementation environments. The lowest level mightbe partitioned and mapped into hardware. A higher level can be mappedinto firmware, a higher level into software and an even higher levelinto scriptware.

7.12.8 Lateral Partitioning

A network can be partitioned laterally along boundaries of a particularhierarchical level. One might search for partitions spanning the networkwith minimal association and cleave the network into separate networksthat relate in some other way than by direct association. In FIG. 98 thezigzag line shows a lateral partition through the network along level 2boundaries.

FIG. 99 shows the network cleaved into two separate networks with level3 boundaries. There are now level 2 association relationships that crosslevel 3 boundaries. These association relationships can no longer becoordinated as directly associated level 2 boundaries. The associationsmight be viewed as stretched over a higher level boundary. They must nowbe coordinated in some different way in relation to the level 3boundaries. How the stretched association relationships are coordinateddepends on how far removed the partitions become and on what boundariesthe association relationships get stretched across. Lateral partitionsmight be mapped to multiple processor cores, multiple software threads,distributed computers, and so on.

7.12.9 Mapping the Network

The association network is a fully distributed and fully concurrentexpression. The behavior model for an association expression is adirectly mapped pipeline structure coordinated with cycle protocol atsome level of the hierarchy, as was discussed above. The associationpaths of the expression that become pipeline paths is the memory of theexpression that is distributed co-locally with the behaviors of theexpression. This expression of distributed behavior and co-locateddistributed memory can be partitioned and mapped into any other form ofexpression with an equal or lesser degree of distribution andconcurrency down to centralized sequentiality. It can map to multipleprocessors, multiple processor cores, multiple threads, multiple tasks,multiple computers, and so on.

7.12.10 Automatic Partitioning and Mapping

The association network with its completeness boundaries is a coherentexpression of a process from the most primitive behaviors to its highestlevel of abstraction. The expression of the network need not explicitlyexpress any details of partitioning, mapping or coordination. Thedetails can be added later. The entire expression of the network can bepurely referential facilitating formulaic and parametric partitioningand mapping of the expression to other forms of expression andimplementation. A mapping processor can be directed to add cyclecoordination to level 2 or to add clock coordination to level 1, topartition hierarchically at level 1 and compare and sort the lesserpartition into a minimal set and specify an ALU function set, to map thegreater partition of level 1 into a sequence of behaviors and memorylocations, to search level 2 boundaries to find all spanning partitionswith three or less associations between them, to search hierarchicalpartitions for the partition boundary with the most commonality in thelesser partition, to search level 2 boundaries to find exactly fourspanning partitions with minimal associations between them, and so on.

-   -   Express once—partition and map forever.

7.12.11 Coordinating Pure Value Expressions

It might not make sense for the value behavior of a pure valueexpression to be expressed in terms of a progression of multiplecoordinated behaviors. If there are sufficient unique values and valuetransform rules for a progression of behaviors, there is probablysufficient value differentiation for the same process to resolve in asingle behavior. This section discusses the possibility anyway.

Consider a set of four value transform rules:

AC[F]

AD[E]

BC[E]

BD[E]

There is no expression of coordination of the formation and presentationof the names. There may be many As, Bs, Cs and Ds and several names mayform and resolve simultaneously. This may not be a problem, but if it isa problem and only one name should be formed at a time, then the valuesmust be explicitly coordinated such that exactly one A or B and one C orD is ever simultaneously present: an explicit boundary of mutuallyexclusive completeness.

7.12.12 The Pure Value Cycle

This coordination can be expressed with values dedicated solely to theexpression of coordination. The dedicated values serve the same role asthe dedicated association paths for cycle coordination in an associationexpression. In these examples uppercase letters will express primaryname forming values (data) and lowercase letters will expresscoordination values.

The first step is to isolate the function by mapping its input andoutput values to a second set of buffering values and then conditioningthe name forming values with a coordination value. The buffering valuesare as follows:

S->A

T->B

U->C

V->D

G->F

H->E

The name-forming values A, B, C and D are next conditioned withcoordination values a and b. The result values E and F assert thecoordination values as well as the final result values of the newfunction is shown in FIG. 100. The expression is initialized with one aand one b. When an S or T appears, the a will allow it to transform toan A or B. When a U or V appears, the b will allow it to transform to aC or D. A single name is formed and resolved to F or E. An F willtransform into G, a and b. An E will transform into an H, a and b. Inboth cases the a and b are regenerated and can allow anothertransformation of S or T and U or V into A or B and C or D, allowinganother name to form and be resolved to F or E. There is no confusionwith the previous F or E because it transformed to G or H when the a andb were asserted.

The oval in FIG. 100 indicates a pure value cycle. The S, T, U, V, F andE rules buffer the internal function from the general pure valueexpression. The coordination values a and b circulate around thefunction coordinating the formation of names and assertion of results instrict sequence, creating an isolated and coordinated value domainwithin the greater pure value expression. There can still be many Ss,Ts, Us and Vs but, there will never be more than one A or B and nevermore than one C or D.

The expression is an isolated locus of cyclic behavior with coordinatedcompleteness boundaries. The behavior of the value cycle is identical tothe behavior of the association cycle of FIG. 83. Like the associationcycle, value cycles can be interlinked to coordinate the flow of valuesamong them.

7.12.13 Coordinating Cycles

Value cycles can coordinate their behavior by combining their bufferingrules and sharing coordination values. This is identical to interlinkingthe completeness protocols of association cycles through shared datapaths. Consider the intersection of cycle 1 and cycle 2 of FIG. 101. Theoutput rules for cycle 2 are:

S[Ayz]

T[Byz]

The values y and z are the coordination values for cycle 2. The inputrules for cycle 1 are:

Sa[A]

Ta[B]

The value a is the coordination value for cycle 1. The two rule sets canbe combined to coordinate the behavior of cycle 1 and cycle 2 asfollows:

Sa[Ayz]

Ta[Byz]

Assume that cycle 2 has asserted a result value S. The S will nottransform into an A until the coordination value of cycle 1 is present.The A becomes an isolated input for cycle 1, and the y and z allowanother input to be presented in cycle 2. The S will not transform untilthe a is present. Cycle 2 cannot receive a new input name until the yand z are asserted. The y and z will not be asserted until an a ispresent. An a will not be present until cycle 1 is ready to receive anew input name. When the a is present, the name Sa is formed andresolved to Ayz. Cycle 1 receives a new input value, and cycle 2 isenabled to receive a new input value.

Each cycle is isolated by its circulating coordination values and itsvalue transform rules embodying the coordination protocol. The flow ofname formation and resolution from cycle to cycle is fully coordinatedand fully determined by the interlinked completeness protocol. There isno ambiguous behavior. Large structures of cycles can be coordinated ina pure value expression via circulating coordination values. FIG. 101shows an extended fan-in structure of coordinated cycles in a pure valueexpression. Each oval is an isolated value cycle with interlinkedcoordination behavior.

FIG. 102 shows a buffering rule set for a fan-out relationship fromcycle 1 to cycle 2 and cycle 3. The value n is a coordination value forcycle 3, and G and H are input values for cycle 3. The value m is acoordination value for cycle 2, and K and L are input values for cycle2. An asserted F or E will not transform until both cycle 2 and cycle 3are ready to receive input.

Each oval is a cycle with a progression of three sets of value transformrules. One set coordinates the presentation of name forming values, asecond set resolves the formed name and a third set coordinates theassertion of result values. Cycle behavior is coordinated by combining afirst rule set of one cycle with a third rule set of another cycle.While the lower case coordination values circulate within each cycle,the upper case data values propagate from cycle to cycle.

The coordination values and the buffering value transform rulesinterlink the cycles, creating pipeline behavior within the pure valueexpression. Appreciation of differentness propagates progressively andunambiguously through the pipelined expression in the midst of a teemingsea of values.

It must be emphasized that there is nothing physical or spatial aboutthese cycles. The thengs and their asserted values are rattling aroundindiscriminately in a shaking bag or a frothing soup. The cycles andtheir structure are loci of behavior expressed in terms of nameformation dependency relationships among value transform rules.

7.12.14 Integrating the Expression of Function and Coordination

The expression of coordination can be integrated into each internalexpression just like the coordination was integrated in the associationexpression of FIG. 85. Each cycle is still defined by circulatingcoordination values and comprises three sets of rules: allow nameforming values to present a name, resolve the formed name, project theresult values. Each group of rules expresses a name resolution pluscoordination for another cycle. FIG. 103 shows the integration of aportion of the expression of FIG. 101. There are fewer rules, but thenames and results for each rule are more complex.

Each expression directly incorporates coordination values, coordinatingthe presentation of its result values to successor functions andcoordinating its own name formations from the results of predecessorfunctions. The functions can resolve more complex names from moredifferent sources. An intertwined complexity of behavior can beexpressed that strains human understanding but whose behavior isnevertheless fully coordinated and unambiguous.

7.12.15 Associating Pure Value Expressions

The progression of different result values cannot continue indefinitelyin a pure value expression. Infinite differentness of value or evenarbitrarily adequate differentness of value is not assumed. Values musteventually be reused to express other differentnesses. A value cannot bereused in a single pure value expression, so there must be otherisolated pure value expressions that use the same value to expressdifferent meanings.

A pure value expression can extend its stride of appreciation byprojecting values beyond itself into another pure value expression. Thevalue transform rules of a pure value expression express an input valueby including it as a name-forming value for some value transform rulesbut not as a result value for any transform rules. The value is notproduced by the current expression so it must arrive from beyond theexpression. The value transform rules express an output value byincluding it as a result value for some value transform rules but not asa name forming value for any value transform rules. It cannot form aname in the present expression and must move beyond the expression toform a name elsewhere.

An input presentation to a pure value expression must be expressedeither by a theng asserting a value entering the expression or by atheng asserting a value extending into the expression. The projection ofresult values is expressed either by a theng asserting a value leavingthe expression or by a theng asserting a value extending out of theexpression.

Recall the interlinking pure value expressions presented in FIG. 54. Theinterlinking is an example of thengs projecting between pure valueexpressions. A wire connecting two transistors is a theng extending outof one pure value expression into another pure value expression. Thereceptor of a biological cell uses both methods of association. Thengsasserting values are projected from a cell by vesicles dumping thengsoutside the cell membrane. Values are presented into a cell via areceptor, which is a theng that extends from outside a cell to inside acell and changes its asserted value inside the cell.

7.12.16 Coordination of Value Flow Among Pure Value Expressions.

Value flow among associated pure value expressions can also becoordinated with dedicated coordination values. The gray shapes in FIG.104 show a partitioning of the value transform rules of the expressionof FIG. 101 among different pure value expressions. In this expression,result values, illustrated by S, U, F, and coordination values,illustrated by ab, yz and cd, flow between the pure value expressions. Atheng asserting the value flows from one expression to another. Thearrows are receptor thengs that transmit a value into its pure valueexpression. When a result value, such as S, and its theng move toanother expression, it transforms and asserts coordination values, suchas y and z, that flow back to the sending expression.

The cycle structure of the overall expression is still determined by thecirculation of coordination values and since these flow betweenindividual expressions a cycle encompasses at least two expressions andlinks the expressions. The cycle structure in relation to the expressionstructure of FIG. 104 is shown in FIG. 105. The cycles are representedas intersecting ovals just as in FIG. 101.

Reusing Values

The partitioned expression in FIG. 105 is shown with the full valuedifferentiation of FIG. 101. However, now that the expression ispartitioned into separate pure value expressions the values can bereused in each expression.

The expression with the individual pure value expressions reusing valuesis shown in FIG. 106. The name-forming values I, J, K and L are isolatedinside each pure value expression and can be reused by each expression.The result values move between expressions, so a single expressioncannot generate result values that are identical to its input values,which are the result values of its predecessor expressions. So the useof result values must be buffered by at least one pure value expression.Function 4 can reuse S and T as result values. There can be otherstrategies of value isolation. For instance, the receptor theng mightnot just transmit the external value but might transform the externalvalue to a different internal value acting as an isolation buffer.

A value cycle is similar to the unit of association in that it is alinear progression of three different value transformations that isolatethe first values from the last values. Following a specific valueprogression, the name Sa might form, then the name AC can form, then thename Fn can form, then the name Sa can form again.

7.12.17 The Last Association Boundaries

Boundaries of association expressions are further associated to formgreater expressions with greater strides of appreciation. As a greaterassociation expression is composed of lesser association expressions,there will always be input and output boundaries of the greatestassociation expression that are uncomposed and expressionally dangling.What is beyond these last dangling boundaries? Where does the presentedinput come from, where does the asserted output go and how are theyexpressed? The input and output is not integral to the associationexpression itself, but exists in some unexpressed magically sufficientlimbo. There are two possibilities for expression beyond the lastboundaries: closing the association expression and pure valuecomposition.

7.12.18 Closing the Expression

All dangling outputs can be associated with all dangling inputs, forminga closed association expression that continually cycles appreciating itsown differentnesses. But a closed expression does not extend beyonditself. It is an expressional dead end and is of no further interesthere.

7.12.19 Pure Value Composition

Consider that the next level of composition encompassing the danglinginput and output boundaries is not more association expression but is avery large pure value expression. The association expression becomes acomponent adrift in the vast context of the pure value expression,receives its input from the content of the pure value expression, andasserts its output to the content of the pure value expression. From thepoint of view of the pure value expression, the association expressionis just a large complex theng in its content.

The input/output boundary with the pure value expression is differentfrom a boundary with another association expression. There is no mutualcoordination. The pure value expression does not explicitly present asequence of formed names to the input. The association expression itselfmust grab its input from the content of the pure value expression withits own input coordination protocol. The pure value expression does notexplicitly accept output. The association expression simply presentsoutput to the content of pure value expression with its own outputcoordination protocol.

7.12.20 The Composition Hierarchy

With the introduction of pure value composition, the hierarchy ofassociation composition takes on a new form. Association compositionbegins at the bottom with the content of pure value expressions (thengs)and bounded pure value expressions directly associating. As theassociation expression grows, it remains content of the pure valueexpression. Association composition begins and ends within a single purevalue expression. The top of the hierarchy is the encompassing purevalue expression. The bottom of the hierarchy is the primitivecomponents of the encompassing pure value expression.

The top and the bottom of the hierarchy are inscrutable. The bottom ofthe hierarchy is inscrutable because primitives have no explanation.They just are and they just behave with no further accountability. Thetop of the hierarchy is inscrutable because there is no higher level.While an association expression requires presented input differentnessesto elicit behavior, the greater pure value expression, with itscontinually interacting content, does not require input or outputboundaries to elicit behavior. The greatest pure value expression existsand continually behaves on its own terms with no greater context toimpart meaning or significance to its behaviors. With only lateralbehavior on its own level, it feeds on its own content drifting—onemight say aimlessly—within itself.

In the middle of the hierarchy of association are isolated componentassociation expressions that cannot transcend their own level or theirown local context within the greater expression, that cannot extendtheir stride of appreciation beyond their place in the greaterstructure. It is not necessary that a component expression transcend itsplace as it is presented with sequences of limited pre-expressiblebehaviors via fixed boundary protocols and it only behaves within thatlimited context.

The input and output boundaries of the greater association expression,however, are exposed to the content of the encompassing pure valueexpression. Presentation context is not limited and boundary protocol isnot fixed. The greater association expression, as a whole, must make itsown way through much more dynamic circumstances than its componentexpressions face.

While the behavior of mid-hierarchy component association expressionsmight be fully pre-expressible, the behavior of the greater associationexpression as it makes its way through the pure value content cannot befully pre-expressed. Appreciating differentness takes on new meaning forthe greater association expression. Recognizing the differentness ofencountered content and asserting appreciation behavior is more in thenature of a search than of an appreciation of pre-expresseddifferentness. Appreciating differentness is no longer an end in itselfbut is a component means of a greater search behavior.

7.12.21 Summary

Lesser expressions are composed into greater expressions by associatingbehavior boundaries. A greater expression is a network of associationrelationships with a hierarchy of nested boundaries. The greaterexpression can be partitioned both hierarchically and laterally alongthese boundaries in various ways to map to various implementations withvarious coordination protocols.

The convention of a spontaneously oscillating feedback cycle wasintroduced as a method of coordinating flow between boundaries, and itwas shown that a structure of interlinked cycles implements a pipelinestructure that can be a direct mapping of the association expression. Itwas also shown that there can be cycles in a pure value expression andthat they can be interlinked forming a spontaneous pipeline flow througha pure value expression, and more pertinently between pure valueexpressions.

The last dangling boundaries of association composition were encompassedwith the introduction of pure value composition. All issues of boundarycomposition are finally addressed. There are no loose ends. Associationexpression arises within the content of a pure value expression andremains a component, just another theng, of the pure value expression.The appreciation of differentness takes on new meaning for the greaterassociation expression with its boundaries exposed to the pure valueexpression.

No new primitive concepts of expression were introduced. It is stilljust associated thengs asserting values that interact according to valuetransform rules.

8 Time and Memory

In its quest through the pure value expression a greater associationexpression might find it useful to be able to appreciate differentnessthrough time. Expressions considered so far have not extended beyond theappreciation of a single presentation. There might be successivepresentations to the input of an expression, but each presentation is aunique differentness to be individually appreciated. There is noappreciation of differentness through time across successivepresentations and no expression of change of appreciation through time,both of which require the expression of memory.

It is convenient at this point to consider process expression entirelyin terms of memory and of memory as relative persistence ofexpressivity. An expression itself is a memory, a locus of relationshipsthat persists from presentation to presentation. The paths of resolutionbehavior through an expression are less persistent short-term transientmemories that maintain the differentnesses of resolution as they flowthrough an expression.

There can be expressions of memory that are less persistent than theexpression itself and more persistent than the differentnesses flowingthrough it. It is this intermediate-term memory that expresses theappreciation of differentness through time within the expression. Thischapter discusses the expression of intermediate memories in the contextof association expressions.

8.1 Association Through Time

Successive wavefronts flowing through an association expressionrepresent successive instances of appreciation in time. Successivewavefronts through a place in the association expression are relatedthrough time by that place. In relation to a given wavefront through agiven place, wavefronts that precede it through the place are in itspast, and wavefronts that follow it through the place are in its future.Wavefronts can be delayed in relation to primary flow through thestructure and can be associated with places in the structure containingfuture wavefronts.

8.2 Pipeline Memory

In a pipelined expression there are successive wavefronts at variousstages of propagation. The delay of a wavefront to associate with afuture wavefront can be expressed in the pipeline structure withdifferential wavefront populations in pipeline segments or by feedbackassociation relationships that associate backward in relation to theprimary flow of resolution behavior, forming a pipeline ring toassociate with following future instances of wavefronts. A directspatial association relationship becomes an association through time. Adelayed wavefront is effectively a memory that associates a past with afuture. The persistence of the memory is the number of wavefronts intothe future expressed by the delay. Memories of varying persistencewithin an expression can be composed to recognize patterns ofdifferentness in time just as logic operators can be composed torecognize patterns of differentness in space.

8.2.1 Graphical Pipeline Representation

FIG. 107 shows the graphical representation of pipeline coordination anda represented pipeline of coupled cycles. Some cycles contain anexpression. Cycles that do not contain an expression are buffer cycles.

8.2.2 Differential Pipeline Population

In a structure of two parallel pipelines with different populations ofwavefronts, the pipeline with the greater wavefront population willdelay wavefronts with respect to the pipeline with the smaller wavefrontpopulation. FIG. 109 shows a structure of pipelines A and B. There arethree wavefronts initialized in pipeline B and no wavefronts initializedin pipeline A. When a wavefront enters the structure on the left, itflows to both pipelines. Through pipeline A it flows to expression F butin pipeline B it gets blocked by the three wavefronts already in thepipeline. At expression F, the wavefront in pipeline A will interactwith the rightmost wavefront from pipeline B. For every wavefrontpassing through pipeline A one wavefront will flow into B and onewavefront will flow out of B. There will always be three more wavefrontsin pipeline B than in pipeline A.

After the initialized wavefronts in pipeline B are used, wavefront Nfrom pipeline A will interact at expression F with the past wavefrontN-2 from pipeline B. The wavefront presented to expression F frompipeline B will always be delayed by two instances in relation to thewavefront presented by pipeline A. A past differentness is associatedwith a future differentness.

The asserted behavior of the expression is a continual appreciation ofthe name formed by two wavefronts associated through time. It is acombination expression in time.

8.2.3 The Feedback Ring

Feedback is an explicit association path from later in a resolution flowof an association structure to earlier in a resolution flow of anassociation structure forming a ring structure. A ring, shown in, is apipeline that feeds back on itself.

Structures of rings can be composed by sharing cycles FIG. 110 shows tworings coupled through a shared cycle.

A ring can be coupled to a pipeline through a shared cycle, as shown inFIG. 111. A part of each appreciation of expression C is remembered inthe ring and will combine with the next presented differentness,influencing its appreciation. The ring might feedback the carry valuefor a serial adder or the current state of a state machine.

While the input and output content of an expression must be understoodby other expressions, how ring content is represented and how itinfluences the appreciation behavior can be unique and local to anexpression. No other expression has to appreciate the content of thering around expression C.

8.3 Composition of Memories

The pipeline expression of FIG. 112 employs two forms of pipeline memoryto express an output behavior that is sensitive to change in its inputand to its previous behavior. The change of input differentness isexpressed with differential population pipelines and the previousbehavior is expressed with a ring.

The parallel pipelines and expression C appreciate the change betweenthe current input and a previous input. The slanted lines through thecontent paths indicate how many differentnesses are represented by eachpath. There are five possible differentnesses of presented input, andexpression C can appreciate eight differentnesses of its associatedwavefronts. The current presented differentness, the result ofexpression C, and the remembered behavior all combine through expressionB to determine one of twelve possible next output behaviors.

Expression C might appreciate that a stare changes to a snarl and thenback to a stare or that the snarl changes to bared teeth. Expression Bin conjunction with the behavior memory remembering that the lastbehavior was to offer a biscuit might determine that the next behaviorshould be to relax or to run.

FIG. 113 illustrates the pure association form of the expression. Thecontent paths are shown without coordination expression. Expression Cappreciates the change of presented differentness with 25 operatorsgenerating one of 8 possible appreciations. Expression B contains 480operators generating one of 12 final output behaviors.

8.3.1 Patterns of Differentness in Time

Progressive patterns of differentness in time can be appreciated withmultiple differential population pipelines. Expression C in FIG. 114continually appreciates the composition of the current and the threepreviously presented differentnesses. Expression C might be an explicitrecognition of each possible pattern, it might be a filtering processthat just recognizes a few of the possible patterns, it might be asmoothing process such as a sliding window average.

8.3.2 Patterns of Behavior in Time

If pipelines B, C and D in the expression of FIG. 114 are reversed, theresult is a structure of three rings that remembers the three previousbehaviors. FIG. 115 shows the three-ring structure. Expression Cdetermines the next appreciation behavior from the current presenteddifferentness and the three previous behaviors.

8.3.3 A Behavior Search

FIG. 116 shows a pure association expression of nested rings mapping asingle recognition input to an output behavior. An internal ringremembers the last behavior. A negative feedback path forms anexpression ring encompassing the internal state ring. The expressionmaps to the last behavior asserted, maintaining a constant behaviormapping unless something bad happens with the last behavior and itreceives negative feedback.

The External Appreciation Input

The external appreciation forms a ring of associated behavior from theoutput of the expression, through the external appreciator, through thenegative feedback input of the expression, through the expression itselfand back through the output. Negative feedback occurs only occasionallyif at all.

OK is constantly generated by an auto produce expression. The generatedOK and negative feedback are independent signals, which are combined bythe arbiter into a single dual-rail signal with values OK and BAD. Thecontinual generation of OK ensures that a dual-rail judgment value isalways presented to the mapping expression with each recognition input.Whenever negative feedback occurs, it will get its turn through thearbiter and be presented to the mapping expression as BAD.

The Mapping Expression

The input of the mapping expression is the recognition input, theremembered behavior, and the judgment value. The mapping expression isshown in Table 8.1. The recognition input enables the ring. When OK ispresented, the mapping expression asserts the remembered previousbehavior that is stored in the ring. When BAD is presented, the mappingexpression asserts a new behavior by rotating away from the rememberedbehavior. If the next presentation is OK, then the expression willstabilize with new behavior. A behavior mapping that does not receiveany BAD judgments will persist.

TABLE 8.1 Behavior mapping table beh A beh B beh C OK beh A beh B beh CBAD beh B beh C beh A

One could add more content differentnesses to the behavior ring as shownin Table 8.2 to modulate the persistence of OK. There can be a weakbehavior A (beh A 1) and a strong behavior A (beh A 2). If a behaviorreceives an OK, it is raised to a strong behavior, and it takes twoconsecutive BADs to change it. Ring content differentnesses can bemapped to express many different behaviors or to express gradations ofpersistence of a few behaviors.

TABLE 8.2 Behavior states with gradations of persistence beh A 1 beh A 2beh B 1 beh B 2 beh C 1 beh C 2 OK beh A 2 beh A 2 beh B 2 beh B 2 beh B2 beh B 2 BAD beh B 1 beh A 1 beh C 1 beh B 1 beh A 1 beh C 1

The expression dynamically changes behavior through time as feedback onbehavior occurs. The change of behavior of the expression is a search tocease receiving negative feedback.

8.3.4 Composition of Behavior Mappers

Dynamic behavior mappers can be composed into a larger expression as inFIG. 117. Each behavior mapper is enabled by a recognition, and thenegative feedback is associated globally to all the behavior mappers.The structure forms a simple experience memory that will settle intobehaviors of no negative feedback for each recognition provided thatthere are such behaviors. If, once settled and negative feedback recurs,the expression will attempt to modify its behavior again.

In the expression of FIG. 117 there are only three output behaviors.Each recognition enables one behavior mapping and results in one of thethree behaviors. It also might be that each mapping asserts individualbehaviors and that a recognition enables more than one behavior mapping,as shown in FIG. 118.

8.4 Experience Memory

A structure of ring memories can remember behaviors.

Behavior Memory

Consider the structure of ring expressions of FIG. 119. Each ring isassociated with a recognition of presented input. Only one recognitionout of a multitude of possible recognitions will occur at a time. Therecognition is both a write enable and a read enable for a ringexpression. Current behaviors are globally presented to each ringexpression in the structure. A recognition enables the current behaviorsto flow into the one addressed ring expression. Some function of thecurrent behaviors and remembered behaviors will flow out of the ring andalso back into the ring. The behaviors flowing out of the ring willcontribute to final output behaviors for the greater associationexpression. The ring then sits quiescent remembering the last behaviorsuntil it is enabled again by a recognition.

The ring memories will modify as recognitions occur over time,accumulating a memory of experience that is accessible by recognition ofpresented input. The content of the rings are memory of the past thatare not associated to a specific relative time but to a specificexperience. A recognition will be a familiarity and the content of thering the reminiscence. An appreciation might enable more than one memoryring. A memory content might enable other memories. Networks of memoriesassociated by experience and behavior can appreciate patterns ofdifferentness through time that can influence the ongoing behavior ofthe greater expression.

8.4.1 Recognition Memory

Behaviors can be associated through time in other relationships as well.Recognition content might be remembered in association with appreciationbehaviors. An expression does not have control over its input, but itdoes have control over its output and there are only so many outputbehaviors. An expression can generate output on a speculative basis(play) and observe what input occurs. It can enable rings in a structurewith the output behavior and store in the rings the ensuing inputrecognition. The expression can anticipate what input recognitionbehavior should occur, and this anticipation can become an integral partof the appreciation of the ensuing input. Eventually an expression mightgain a modicum of control over its input through its output behavior.

8.5 A New Form of Expression

What is new with this chapter is intermediate persistence memories.Prior to this chapter a process expression was characterized as apermanent expression through which transient differentnesses flowed andwere appreciated. There might be a succession of presenteddifferentnesses to appreciate, but each successive presentation wasindependent with no relationship with other presentations. There wereonly two extremes of persistence: the permanent expression and thetransient differentnesses that flow through it being appreciated. Theonly relationship among successive presentations was the constancy ofappreciation of the expression itself. Identical differentnesses arealways identically appreciated.

With the introduction of intermediate persistence memories the nature ofexpression changes dramatically. There are now direct associationrelationships among successive presentations. An expression is now anassociation structure of memories as well as a structure of appreciatingoperators. The content of the intermediate memories is integral to theappreciation of each successive presentation. The content of thememories is constantly changing. The appreciation behavior of theexpression is constantly changing. Identical differentnesses are nolonger always identically appreciated. There is no longer a staticappreciator of dynamic differentness. The appreciator is itself dynamic.

An association expression encompassed by a pure value expressionincludes a ring path from the output of the expression through the purevalue expression to the input of the expression. With the cyclicbehavior of the ring and changing contents of intermediate persistencememories a new form of expression arises, dynamically making its waythrough the pure value expression.

8.5.1 The Expression of Memory

There is no firm boundary between the expression of memory and the restof the expression. The differential pipeline memory is a matter ofinitialized wavefronts. Without the initialized wavefronts the structuredoes not express a memory. The ring is just another associationrelationship in the greater structure. There is no standard way ofexpressing memory. It can be any means of expression that persists inrelation to other expressions. It can be anything from a seriallyaddressable monolithic memory to the structure of an associationexpression itself.

In the behavior search of Section 8.3.3 a ring stored three possiblebehaviors, and the expression searched through the three behaviors toavoid bad experiences. It could also be expressed as an object withmethods of search in the monolithic memory of a conventional computer.It could also be expressed as an association search that reconfiguresitself with the negative feedback. FIG. 120 shows a pure associationexpression of three binary inputs combining association relationshipsinto a rank of threshold operators representing eight possibleappreciation behaviors. The pattern of associations maps the formed nameto a recognizing behavior.

The expression can search through various mappings of recognition tobehavior by changing the association relationships. A negative feedbackcould cause the expression to make more associations. Negative feedbackjust mixes things up. In the absence of negative feedback a status quoconsolidates itself. The resulting memory of mapping recognition tobehavior is an integral part of the association expression.

It was suggested at the beginning of the chapter that it was convenientto consider process expression purely in terms of memory. An expressionnot only contains intermediate memories but is itself a memory that canchange. An expression is a structure of memories of various,persistences with the greater expression itself simply being the mostpersistent memory. As the content of the memories change, including thestructure of expression itself, the appreciation behavior of theexpression changes. The ring expressions of FIG. 119 might bedynamically changing association expressions like FIG. 120.

8.5.2 The Expression of Time

Association through time is expressed as association between places inthe network. While some associations through time might be constantrelative to succession relationships such as with a delay memory, whichalways associates the memory of the third previous wavefront with thecurrent wavefront, other associations will be in terms of recognitionbehaviors within the expression.

No Structure of Place in Time

There is no coherent characterization of “place in time.” A place intime might be a place in relation to presentation succession. A place intime might be a place of some specific experience or behavior. Differentkinds of places in time are not relatable among themselves. They do notcompose. A relative experience time cannot be related to a relativesuccession time. But they can all be associated within the associationexpression. These association relationships do not themselves form acoherent network of association relationships through time. Each placeof association through time is an island of association within theassociation network. The islands themselves are not necessarilyassociated in terms of time, but they are all associated within thenetwork.

Prior to the invention of the clock and the calendar there is noparticular structure to time within an association expression: nocoherent characterization of place in time.

No Boundaries in Time

While the behavior of an association expression is bounded by its inputand output boundary and by the extent of its network, there is noinherent bound to its behavior in time and no particular boundaries ofassociation through time. An association expression can receive input,assert output and remember content as long as it persists. There is noparticular beginning and no particular ending of time during itspersistence.

The closing of the boundaries of the expression through the pure valueexpression and the expression of memories within the expressiontranscends the bounds of the association expression itself. It becomesan ongoing process extending through time and into the pure valueexpression with no firm boundaries of expression.

8.5.3 Whither Referent?

Another aspect of the expression that becomes infirm is the stability ofthe expression itself and its role as a referent of differentness.Initially expression was characterized as a referent for presenteddifferentnesses. But, if an expression can change its behavior inrelation to the differentnesses presented to it, what becomes of therole of referent? The answer lies in the beginning.

Differentness and its appreciation begins in the primitive pure valueexpression. Each theng carries around its value and some value transformrules. Thengs freely associate and interact. All thengs are on a levelplaying field, symmetrically appreciating each other. Each theng and itsvalue is equally a referent to appreciate the differentness of all otherthengs and equally a differentness for all other thengs to appreciate.

When thengs join in a persistent locus of association, the locus breaksthe symmetry of expression. The association expression as a whole has agreater stride of appreciation and becomes a greater referent than anyindividual theng. If the association expression changes slowly inrelation to the differentnesses flowing through it, it does not cease tobe a greater referent. It just becomes a slightly different referent.

8.5.4 The Arrogance of Bulk

As the locus persists and grows bulkier its stride of appreciation growsand it becomes a farther reaching referent, not only of differentness,but the association structure and the memories of the expression beginforming referents for space and time. Earlier in Section 5.2.8 it wasstated that there is no inherent place or time within the pure valueexpression and that there is no external meta view to project a referentof place and time. An association expression arising within a pure valueexpression becomes an internal meta observer projecting its metrics ofdifferentness, space and time onto its neighborhood content, usurpingthe role of meta referent with the presumptive arrogance of selfreference: a persistence with attitude—an arrogant bulk that can imposeits appreciations and its referent on lesser expressions with smallerstride of appreciation and less persistence.

There is no meta referent for the behavior of these self proclaimedreferents. There is no ultimate “true” referent, no absolute metareferent. An arrogant bulk is a greatest referent and it is entirely onits own.

8.5.5 Whither Stability?

The content of memories can change. The association structure of theexpression can change. With so much that can change how can anexpression possibly remain stable and persistent?

It was mentioned above that an expression might change slowly. What doesit mean for an expression to change slowly? It means that there is a newdifferentness that is not very different from the previousdifferentness: that there are localities of differentness in theexpression, that a change within the locality does not drasticallychange the expression but slightly evolves the expression. The primitiveexpression of locality of differentness is mutual exclusivity ofassertion. A theng that mutually exclusively asserts one value at a timeexpresses a primitive locality of differentness.

Consider a pure association variable that represents a1000differentnesses as 1000 unique places of association only one of whichwill assert at a time, rather like FIG. 120 with 1000 appreciationsinstead of 8. The 1000 differentnesses might be 1000 gradations of forcefor a particular muscle. It is easy to imagine that some associationsmight wither, that some associations might strengthen, and that newassociations might arise speculatively. It is easy to imagine that theappreciation of a particular input might gradually drift along thegradations of force as the association relationships changed. One changeof differentness among 1000 differentnesses can be a gradual change.

One can also imagine gradual change in a pure value expression. Considera protein gradually changing if differentness in relation to all otherproteins as DNA mutation gradually alters its amino acid structure oneamino acid at a time.

Pure forms of expression can easily express locality of differentnessand gradual drift of local differentness. It is this expression oflocality of differentness from which stability of persistence arises. Ofcourse, a change may still cause a very non local change ofdifferentness and the expression may or may not persist. Or a localchange may cross some boundary of stability to the detriment of theexpression. There is no primitive imperative of stability. An arrogantbulk is merely a locus that has managed to persist.

Non local change does not foster stability. Consider an expression whosecontent is binary encoded. If a bit flips on a 10 bit number changing itfrom 512 to 520, what does that mean? If the expression of binary ADDchanges slightly, what does that mean? An encoded number represents somewhole differentness, Nevertheless, the encoding, which might be in anyradix, is arbitrary. Since the encoding is arbitrary, it cannot relatedirectly to the whole differentness being represented, and a change ofthe code cannot be meaningfully related to the whole differentness.Place-value encoded differentness provides opportunities for meaninglessand disruptive non local change.

8.5.6 A Greater Search

An association expression was initially characterized as a passiveappreciator of differentness that searched to match a presented input toan internal representation of the possible presentations. Since allpossible presentations cannot be internally pre-expressed, this internalsearch is no longer a sufficient end in itself but becomes a componentmeans of a greater search extending into the pure value expression. Ifappreciation of differentness cannot be fully pre-expressed within theexpression, then the expression must develop its own appreciationsthrough play. The ring of behavior from the output through the purevalue expression to the input provides the ability to search and playwithin the pure value expression.

For an association expression encompassed by a pure value expression,its output behavior is no longer just values asserted at an outputboundary. Output behavior can directly interact with the content of thepure value expression. The output behavior might change the orientationof the input boundary in relation to the content of the pure valueexpression. The output behavior might change the content of the purevalue expression in a way that immediately or eventually feeds back tothe input boundary affecting the presentation of the input.

The memories in the expression provides the ability to remember theconsequences of output behavior in a way that influences futurebehaviors. The various memories of the expression are an integral partof the search. As well as forming an internal memories of experience, anassociation expression might form memories in the pure value expressionitself by leaving mementos about in the pure value expression to befound later or by modifying the pure value content in some memorableway. It might communicate with other association expressions by placingthings in the pure value content and by receiving things from the purevalue content. With individual mobility, association expressions mightmaintain mutual locality and form a persistent locus of loosely coupledassociation expressions. The expressions might cooperate to accumulateexperience memory within themselves collectively and within theirimmediate vicinity. An association expression is no longer a passiveappreciator. It is an active participant.

8.5.7 The Goal

What is the goal of the greater search? There is no particular goal, noend to the search, no ultimate answer. It is just an ongoing behaviorthat is convenient to speak of as a search. The behavior continues, orit does not. The behavior abets persistence, or it does not. While anarrogant bulk is judging the differentnesses of its surrounding content,the surrounding content of the pure value expression is judging thepersistence of the bulk. An arrogant bulk behaves and judges as long asit persists. Persistence begets referent, and persistence itself is theonly ultimate referent.

8.6 Time and Memory in Pure Value Expression

While an association expression forms a coherent whole withrelationships among all its parts, a pure value expression does not forma coherent whole. The content of a pure value expression can support amultitude of value expressions behaving independently, the onlycommonality being the common place of association. While a rhythm may beestablished by one independent value expression, there is no structureof relationships for a rhythm to influence the pure value expression asa whole. In a pure value expression all association is either immediate,as with a fully associated pure value expression, or of indeterminateinterval, as with a shaking bag pure value expression. Neither caseprovides a basis for a referent interval of time.

The memory of a pure value expression is its content. Because thecontent can contain a multitude of independent processes, there is noparticular structure to the content and no particular structure to thememory. A value can be left in the content of the expression to interactat a later time, but when the interaction occurs, it may not be clearthat the value is from a past or from how far in the past. Past, presentand future are much murkier in a pure value expression than in anassociation expression.

8.7 Summary

The structure of an association expression can serve as a referent ofrelative past, present and future for the wavefronts flowing through it.The succession of presented or grabbed input wavefronts can establish arhythm of successive instances of time. Each successive wavefront has aplace in time relative to the other wavefronts in the succession.Intermediate persistence memories within an association expression canstore wavefronts and associate them with succeeding or future wavefrontsassociating differentness through time. Association structures ofmemories of differing persistence can express the appreciation ofpatterns of differentness through time.

Appreciation behavior can change in relation to the changing memoriesthat are integral to the expression. An expression becomes a dynamicappreciator of its dynamic pure value surroundings. Expressions withgreat stride of appreciation become referents for expressions withconsiderably less stride of appreciation: arrogant bulks: ad hocself-proclaimed referents for all they encounter, adrift in the purevalue expression, making their way as best they can.

No new primitive concepts of expression have been introduced. It isstill just associated thengs asserting values that interact according tovalue transform rules.

9 Incidental Time

With memory expressions can be extended in time, not only for theappreciation of differentness in time but simply for some convenientvariation of expression. Such extension in time is not an inherentproperty of the process being expressed but is incidental to aparticular expression of a process that might be expressed in other wayswithout extension in time. One reason for incidental extension in timeis to compensate for various limitations of expressivity. Another reasonis to provide flexibility of behavior.

9.1 Sequentialization of Associations

The association expression of the full-adder in FIG. 121 will serve asan example expression. The minimum extension in time for any expressionis a single behavior. The full-adder can be expressed as two concurrentsingle behaviors as seen earlier with the association expression of FIG.72. The example expression extends with multiple behaviors through bothspace and time because of the limited value differentiation of theBoolean functions.

Extension in time occurs when there are resources of limitedexpressivity that have to be reused over and over. In the case of FIG.121 there are only two values that must be reused multiple times, andthere are only simple association operators that must be used multipletimes. The association paths are the memories extending the expressionin time.

The full-adder expression can be further extended in time by increasingmemory capacity. FIG. 122 shows the expression of FIG. 121 redrawn withstateless operators in an ordered sequence with exactly the sameassociation relationships. The expression is partitioned with clockedpipeline stages indicated by the vertical lines. The horizontal part ofeach association path is one or more pipeline stages long. Each pipelinestage is a separate memory element. The C input path, for example, hasten pipeline stages. Each association path in the expression of FIG. 121is exactly one memory element. The memory capacity of each associationpath in FIG. 122 is increased by the pipeline stages allowing theexpression to be extended farther in time.

9.2 Time-Space Trade-Off

Consider that there is just one AND operator, one OR operator and oneNOT operator. The AND operator has to be used six times, the OR operatorthree times and the NOT operator four times. The behavior of theexpression must be extended in time to allow each resource to be reusedmultiple times. One instantiation of each operator takes up less spacethan a fully populated association expressions of FIG. 121 and FIG. 122.This is commonly called a time-space trade-off. Space is being saved interms of instantiated resources by using rare resources over and over intime.

9.2.1 Reusing operators

With each use of an operator, its asserted result is fed back andpresented to the input of the operator to which it associates. FIG. 123shows the feedback expression for the binary full-adder. There is a newoperator called Chain to replicate in time the values that arereplicated by fan-out in the association expression.

The feedback paths are pipeline paths forming rings. Each feedback pathcorresponds to an internal association path in the associationexpression. Each operator outputs only one result at a time that must beexplicitly steered, in sequence, through a fan-out steering structure(O1 through O4) to the proper pipeline that associates through an inputsteering structure (I1 through I6) to the input of an operator.

A sequence of commands controlling each steering structure is sufficientto realize the full adder expression. Each steering structure iscontrolled by an individual sequence of steering commands, shown in FIG.124. Each output goes to a specific path and each input comes from aspecific path. The Chain operator output can be steered to anassociation pipeline as well as the Chain pipeline which replicateswavefronts.

The commands can reside in a ring attached to each steering structure,as shown in FIG. 125. Continually cycling in the ring, they willrepeatedly control the steering structures to resolve successivelypresented inputs. In this case the feedback paths of the rings allowindefinite repetition of each command sequence, and hence the indefiniterepetition of the expression as a whole continually resolvingsuccessively presented inputs on X, Y and C.

The expression is still a spontaneously flowing pipeline structurecoordinated by completeness relations, but it is no longer purely astructure of data flow. It is now a structure of data flow integratedwith multiple command flows. With the association expression of FIG.121, the data wavefronts coordinated their own correctly behaving flow.The expression has been fragmented into separate components of data flowand control flow that must be properly coordinated to correctly expressthe behavior of the process. The association relationships are nowexpressed partly in terms of direct association and partly in terms ofcommand sequence. The expression of explicit control has emerged.

9.2.2 Sequencing the Feedback Network

The feedback full-adder is redrawn in FIG. 126 to show the feedbacknetwork between the fan-outs and fan-ins. The feedback network can nowbe seen as an association structure bounded by the steering structuresin contrast to the operators bounded by the steering structures.

While the expression above might allow for very limited concurrentbehavior among the operators, it is simpler and likely more efficient tostrictly sequentialize the behavior. The control of the feedback networkcan be sequentialized by merging the output steering structures andcommand sequences into a single output steering structure and commandsequence and by merging the input steering structures and commandsequences into a single input steering structure and command sequence.The merged steering structures are shown in FIG. 127. The new fan-outsteering structure requires two inputs to accommodate the two outputs ofthe chain function and the new fan-in steering structure requires twooutputs for the AND and OR inputs.

The command sequences of FIG. 124 can be merged into a single fan-outsequence (input) and a single fan-in sequence (output) for the feedbackpipelines such that all inputs to the network are earlier in the mergedsequence than the outputs of the network to which they associate. X2,for instance, is steered in through the fan-out structure before it issteered out through the fan-in structure. The two sequences must alsocorrespond such that the result of a fan-in to an operator is correctlysteered by the corresponding fan-out command. The OP4 fan-out commandmust be in the same place in sequence as the OP1, Y1 fan-in command. Theresulting sequence of commands is shown in FIG. 128.

In the expression above of FIG. 126, the input of an operator isexpressed by direct association with a steering structure. With thesteering structures merged and the commands merged in a strict sequence,there is no longer any direct association relationship between thesteering structure and the operators. The operators must now be boundedby their own steering structures with a sequence of commands that steerinput to one operator and then steer the output of the operator. Theresulting expression structure is shown in FIG. 129.

The sequence of commands for steering through the operators is derivedfrom the direct association relationships of the steering structures inFIG. 126. The merged fan-in and fan-out commands and the new operatorsteering commands are shown in FIG. 130. Each step in each commandsequence manages a single operator behavior through the expression.

9.2.3 A Final Merge

The four command sequences are all the same length, and their commandsequences coincide. The Nth command in each sequence manages the Nthoperator resolution flow. The four command sequences can be merged intoa single sequence of combined commands, each command configuring asingle cycle of the expression. The single sequence of commands can thenbe expressed in a single ring that fans its output to the four steeringstructures, as shown in FIG. 131.

9.2.4 Referential Expression

With the steering structures merged, there is no longer any directassociation relationships in the expression related to a particularprocess expression. All association relationships are configured by asequence of symbolic references or commands. The expression has becomepurely referential.

Now that the feedback association relationships are expressedreferentially by the steering commands, the network of feedbackpipelines need no longer express specific association relationships.There is a one-to-one mapping between the steering structures boundingthe feedback pipelines so they need only associate directly from thefan-out structure to the fan-in structure. The network can bestraightened out in a one-to-one association from the fan-out structureto the fan-in structure, as shown in FIG. 131. Each pipeline can have apreassigned steering name such as 0, 1, 2 and so on and the associationnames of the expression can be arbitrarily mapped to these preassignednames. The operators can also have preassigned steering names that areconvenient to the implementation. The steering structures with the newsteering names are shown in FIG. 131. The original associationexpression place names are shown in the middle of the network as atranslation reference

The complex association relationships of the ring structures of theprevious examples have been subsumed into address mapping of a memoryand a sequence of commands. FIG. 132 shows the command sequences of FIG.130 combined into a single command sequence with the association namesof the original expression mapped to the preassigned steering names ofthe feedback network and the operators. Each row of the table is asingle command. The use of preassigned steering names in the commandshighlights the purely referential form of the expression.

While the previous versions were fairly complex structures of coupledrings, the current expression can be seen as a structure of two coupledrings: a memory/operator ring with selectable paths and a command ringstoring and presenting command wavefronts that select the sequence ofpaths for the memory/operator ring.

9.2.5 The Transformed Nature of the Expression.

Even though the configurable expression is still a pipeline structurethat behaves in terms of spontaneously flowing wavefronts, theexpression of a mapped process is no longer in terms of spontaneouslybehaving wavefronts flowing along direct association paths throughspontaneously behaving operators. Data wavefronts and operatorspassively wait to be controlled by a command wavefront. A singlecoherent relationship structure has been fragmented into tworelationship structures with no inherent connection. Unique place in astructure of association relationships has transformed into acombination of unique place in memory and unique place in an a sequenceof commands.

These two expressions must be properly coordinated with each other tocorrectly express the process. There are many possible correct commandsequences, and the memory mapping is completely arbitrary. It is easy toget the coordination wrong. None of this variability of expression ispresent in the original example association expression of FIG. 121.

9.2.6 Commands in Memory

The command ring is just a memory for the command sequence that presentsthe commands one at a time in sequence. With a large generallyaddressable feedback network each command wavefront can just as well bestored in the feedback network and the command ring can contain just asequence of feedback network addresses. Each command can be fetched andinstantiated in sequence and then sent back to its address to be enabledanother time.

9.2.7 SubExpressions and Iteration

If the pre-addressing of the feedback network is ordinal, the commandscan be placed in consecutively ordered addresses and the address ringcan contain, instead of a sequence of addresses, an address generatorthat generates consecutively ordered addresses. A command can be addedthat sets the address of the address generator so that it startsgenerating a sequence from a new pipeline address. This way a greatersequence can be composed from lesser sequences located at differentplaces in the pipeline network. If a command can set the sequenceraddress dependent on some data state, a command sequence can be composedconditionally in relation to states of data.

9.2.8 Indirect Addressing and Data Structures

The ability to change the sequencing location means that some sequencescan be composed multiple times. It makes little sense that the samesequence be applied to the same data multiple times, so eachinstantiation of the sequence should be presented with a different dataset to resolve. If the commands in the sequence refer to specificfeedback pipelines, the contents of the pipelines can be changed betweeninstantiations. Another possibility is that with ordinal addresses thepipeline addresses of each command can be relative to a base addressthat can be changed by a command between each instantiation, allowing acommand sequence to be instantiated over and over on different sets ofdata at different places in the memory enabling iteration behavior.

9.2.9 A Generally Configurable Expression

A sequence of commands composed of short command sequences at differentplaces in memory can operate on patterns of data reference composed ofcommon subpatterns of data reference at different places in memory. Anyassociation expression, including expressions that associate throughtime, can be mapped into the configurable expression.

9.2.10 The Conventional Synchronous Sequential Architecture

The configurable expression presented so far is still a logicallydetermined pipeline structure of spontaneously flowing wavefrontscoordinated with completeness relationships. A command wavefront splitsinto field wavefronts that flow to the steering structures, enablingwavefronts patiently waiting in the memory pipelines through an operatorand back to a memory pipeline. It is a short step from this point to thetraditional synchronous architecture with a conventional passive memory,a controller and an ALU—all coordinated with a global clock. With aconventional memory a location can be read multiple times, so the chainoperator is no longer needed. The data flow is regimented in terms ofclock tics instead of spontaneously flowing in terms of localcompleteness relations. Each tic of the clock is the expression ofcompleteness. With the conventional memory and the clock the lastvestige of logically determined spontaneous behavior disappears.

9.2.11 New Notions of Expressivity

In the process of incidentally extending expression in time, several newnotions of expressivity arose: the notion of a single coherentaddressable memory, the notion of passive data, the notion ofaddressable operators (ALU), the notion of strict sequentiality, thenotion of explicit sequence control, the notion of the serial bus, thenotion of a sequence of symbolic reference and the notion ofinterpretive resolution of a symbolic referential expression.

9.3 Summary

Extension of an expression in time may simply be an incidental featureof a particular expression in contrast to an additional dimension ofdifferentiation and appreciation. Any expression can be extended in timein many ways, all of which involve memory. Memory may often be muchcheaper than other resources of expression, and memory can supportflexibility of expression enabling symbolic interpretation.

10 Points of View

The first step of process expression is a point of view. What are thedifferentnesses of the process? How are they associated? How do theyinteract and appreciate? The answers to these questions form a point ofview. There can be different points of view for any given process,leading to radically different expressions of the process. This chapterexplores example processes from differing expressional points of view.

10.1 Number as Differentness

Number is an expression of ordered differentness. The differentnessescan be ordered with uniform intervals of differentness, creating acardinal metric typically expressed as a uniformly ruled number line.Differentness is characterized as place on the number line in terms ofquantity of intervals from an origin. Two different numbers representtwo different places on the number line. If two numbers are identical,then they represent the same place on the number line.

In the abstract, each number is a unique differentness. But, inpractice, a number is represented symbolically with a limited number ofactual differentnesses: a limited set of unique digits. This isaccomplished with multiple ordered digit positions, each of which cancontain any digit of the set, each position imparting a differentmeaning to its contained digit. This is called a place-value number,where place refers to the position of a digit and value refers to theactual digit at the position. In a place-value number, each digitposition in the number represents a different granularity ofdifferentness of place on the number line, with the rightmost digitrepresenting the finest granularity and the leftmost digit representingthe coarsest granularity.

The range of differentness represented by each position of a place-valuenumber is determined by the number of available digits. Two digits is abinary range, eight digits is octal, ten digits is decimal, sixteendigits is hexadecimal, and so on. With eight digits there can be a firstrepresentation of eight differentnesses. Using the digits again in adifferent position, there can be eight differentnesses of eightdifferentnesses. Using the digits again at another position, there canbe another gradation of eight differentnesses of eight differentnessesof eight differentnesses, and so on.

A reference point in the sequence of digits represents a baselinegranularity of the number line. A place-value number is indefinitelyextendable about this reference point. Digit positions progressing tothe right of the reference point increase the fineness of thegranularity of differentness of place on the line, extending theprecision of a number. Digit positions progressing to the left of thereference point increase the coarseness of differentness of place on theline extending the range of a number. The number of positions in anumber bounds the extent of unique places represented on the line. Afour-position decimal number represents places 0000 to 9999, tenthousand uniquely different places, on the line.

A place-value number is a successive approximation of the place on theline. The leftmost decimal digit of a four-position number indicates theneighborhood of thousands. The next right digit indicates theneighborhood of hundreds within the thousands neighborhood. The nextindicates the neighborhood of tens within the hundreds neighborhood and,the rightmost digit indicates the place itself within the tensneighborhood. It is a hierarchically nested progression of uniformdifferentness representing finer and finer granularity of place on thenumber line.

A place-value number can guide a progressive search for a place on theline. One might view a number as similar to a file system path name:/9/5/6/4/3 for the decimal number 95643.

10.1.1 Interaction of Numeric Differentness

Places on the number line can interact to represent new places on thenumber line. In the abstract, two distances-from-the-origin can bedirectly catenated in a single behavior to represent a newdistance-from-the-origin place on the line that is the addition of thetwo distances. But, in practice, the interaction of place-value numbersrepresenting the places must be expressed as a method of manipulatingthe digits of the numbers representing the two distance-from-the-originplaces resulting in a new place-value number representing the newdistance-from-the-origin place on the line.

The addition of place-value numbers is accomplished by combining thedigits of commensurable granularity on the number line to produce a newdigit for that granularity. Commensurable granularity is expressed aspositions equally relative to the reference point of two numbers withidentical baseline granularity. Digit addition is the catenation of thedistance represented by each digit within their granularity domain. Itmight occur that a combination of digits spills out of their granularitydomain into a neighboring granularity domain. This eventuality has to becommunicated as a carry digit to the combination of the next coarserdigits. Because of this propagation of influence each digit combinationmust wait on the completion of the combination of the next finergranularity digits. Consequently the addition of place-value numbersproceeds sequentially from the finest granularity digit positions to thecoarsest granularity digit positions. The combination of two numbersdoes not represent a new place on the number line until all the digitsof both numbers have been combined in sequence to produce a new numberrepresenting a complete path to the new place on the number line.

Place-value numbers provide a general method of expressing differentnessand its interaction with a common referent (the number line), a commonstructure (the place value number), a common set of digits (0-9) and acommon set of interaction behaviors (arithmetic). This commonalityenables a uniform characterization of differentness and the interactionof differentnesses: a general form of expressing process behavior.

10.1.2 Projecting Numeric Differentness

The number line can be projected in many different ways into manydifferent circumstances to provide a referent for and representation ofdifferentnesses of the circumstances. Two number lines intersectingorthogonally can represent a two dimensional reference frame, and twonumbers (a number for each line) represent a place on the plane of thereference frame. Three orthogonal number lines can represent athree-dimensional reference frame that can be projected in space,creating a referent of spatial differentness with three numbersrepresenting a place in its space.

The ordinality, cardinality, and indefinite extensibility of place-valuenumbers can be used anywhere in the context of a projected referenceframe to characterize spatial behaviors in terms of numericdifferentnesses and interaction relationships among the numbers.

10.2 A Landing Eagle.

Consider an eagle landing on a tree branch.

10.2.1 The Numeric View

To characterize the process of an eagle landing, one might project a 3Dreference frame about the tree extending indefinitely in all directions,define a reference frame for the eagle within the reference frame of thetree at some point prior to landing, and specify orientations for thewings, the talons and the head and eyes within the reference frame forthe eagle. The landing can then be characterized as a spatialtranslation of the eagle onto the limb within the common 3D referenceframe.

The spatial distance and orientation between the eagle and the treebranch can be determined. Coordinate translations of the head, wings andtalons can place the eagle on the branch in a single translation step.This translation can be calculated with the place-value numbersrepresenting the position of the branch, the position of the eagle andall its parts and the equations of coordinate translation. Thecalculations are complex algebraic equations carried out on vectors andmatrices involving an enormous quantity of interacting numbers. Eachnumber interaction resolves sequentially through all its stages of digitposition approximation.

If one wishes to simulate the landing in stages, this translationcomputation can be repeated in small increments of position each closerto the branch until the eagle is perched on the branch. Each step of thesequence must be calculated to the full precision of the reference frameto provide a current orientation for the calculation of the next stepuntil the eagle is perched on the branch. Presumably the finer theincrements of position and the finer the granularity of the numbers, themore closely the simulation represents a real eagle landing on a realbranch.

Some people marvel that animals can perform the calculations necessaryto walk and jump and catch Frisbees. There is an assumption that nature,through evolution, has come up with very clever ways to perform thenecessary numeric calculations within the reference frame. Perhapscalculation within the reference frame has nothing to do with it.Perhaps it is just a matter of a different point of view.

10.2.2 The Eagle's View

Consider the problem from the point of view of the eagle. The eaglecannot project a high-precision 3D reference frame onto the world,measure places in the frame with high-precision numbers and interact thenumbers with complex equations to land on the branch. The eagle only hasthe reference frame of its field of vision. Instead of projecting a 3Dreference frame onto the world, the world projects onto the eagle's 2Dfield of vision.

In the vision field there will be a distance and direction delta betweenthe talons and the branch. This delta can resolve to a number ofbehavior variables that fan out to the wings, the talons, the head andthe eyes as a first coarse approximation to the landing problem. Theresulting body movements cause a change in the vision field of theeagle, which results in a new delta value that resolves to more valuesfanned out to the wings, the talons and the head and eyes as a finerapproximation to the landing. As the eagle nears the branch, bodybehaviors continue to reduce the delta between the talons and the branchuntil the landing is accomplished.

Assume that the delta covers a limited range of one thousand possibledeltas within the vision field. The eagle keeps its eye on the branchcentered in the field of vision. A thousand neurons distributed over thevision field can represent a thousand different delta (radius vector)values relative to the center of vision, only one of which will fire ata time. Think of the compound eye of the bee. Bees can land on branchestoo. The neuron that fires can then contribute to generating the bodyvariables that direct the wings, the head and the talons.

Assume that the body parts have small relative behavior ranges and thatthe generated body variables each have a range of 5 possibilities thatcan be represented with five neurons. The body parts are directed thougha progression of small changes that guide the eagle and its vision fieldonto the branch.

The eagle's reference frame is its field of vision, which has a directrelationship to its body parts. The expression of the eagle is arrangedso that it uses only necessary difference relations in a fairly shortprogression of direct interactions to effect each iteration orapproximation of the landing behavior. Its body movements and its paththrough space are never characterized in the context of any externalreference frame, they are characterized only in terms relative to thevision field and the body of the eagle. The vision reference frame isnot a projected reference frame but is integral to the expression of theeagle and its behavior.

The expression of the eagle is a structure of rings with part ofone-ring path passing through the branch. There are command paths to thebody parts and return paths indicating current position in relation tothe body. The ring through the branch is through the whole body of theeagle, through the branch, through the eyes and to the body part commandgeneration as shown in FIG. 133.

The vision field delta is represented as a thousand uniquedifferentnesses by a thousand neurons. Each body variable is representedas five unique differentnesses by five neurons. These are directrepresentations of local differentness that perform specific localtasks. They are not numbers in the conventional sense.

The eagle knows nothing about the numeric reference frame, aboutcoordinates, about place-value numbers or about how numbers behave inrelation to the reference frame. The eagle is not doing anythingremotely like numeric calculation as humans understand it.

But why doesn't the eagle use place-value numbers? To contrast therepresentation of direct differentness with the conventional notion ofnumber, the notion of a single digit number is introduced.

10.3 The Single-Digit Number

A single-digit number represents its entire range of differentness witha single-digit position. One might think of it as adjusting the radix ofthe number to match its range so that a second-digit position is neverneeded. If a number represents 50 differentnesses, there are 50 digits.The digits might be 50 unique symbols or 50 unique places in a networkof association relationships.

Each single-digit number has a unique set of digits that interact bydirect association in a single behavior with digits of othersingle-digit numbers in terms of a unique set of value transform rules.Each number is unique, and each interaction is unique. There is nonecessary commonality of structure, or commonality of digits, orcommonality of interaction behavior. There is no number line, noordinality and no cardinality.

Initially this must seem a major shortcoming of the notion of thesingle-digit number. There is no foothold of commonality for analysisand comparison of single-digit number expressions. But, whilecommonality has its use, it also has its cost. Specifics can be obscuredby commonality, and many things can be properly understood only in thespecific. Commonality can also be very expensive. Combining multitudesof place-value numbers is not cheap. The specificity of single-digitnumbers provides a directness of expression and efficiency of behaviorthat place-value numbers cannot provide.

10.3.1 Single-Digit Number Expressions

Because single-digit numbers interact with a single behavior, asingle-digit number expression is a network of directly associatedsingle-digit numbers. This network of association relationships is thecounterpart of the algebraic expression for place-value numbers.

Logic, as it is used in designing electronic circuits, is a single-digitnumber system with a common set of digits and common set of interactionbehaviors. Each logical variable (number) has only two digit values,TRUE or FALSE, NULL or DATA, represented as a single digit position.These single-digit numbers are directly combined as a network ofdirectly interacting logical operators.

Single-digit number expressions can be directly mapped to real worldbehaviors. Real world behaviors can also be mapped directly to singledigit number expressions. If real world behaviors are mapped toplace-value number expressions, confusions of commonality arise.Implications of ordinality, cardinality, extensibility and spatialplaceness of differentness are introduced. None of these qualities haveany relevance to the behavior being mapped. These confusions do notarise with single-digit number expressions. There are a multitude ofreal world behaviors that are single-digit number expressions and verylikely not a single one that is a place-value number expression.

Both commonality and specificity have their appropriate places.

10.3.2 Two Methods of Approximation

With place-value numbers and the projected reference frame the eagle canbe translated to the branch in a single translation calculation. Eventhough the calculation is carried out as a single abstract step, it isstill calculated as an enormous quantity of numeric interactions, eachof which resolves as an iterative progression of successiveapproximation. If the landing is carried out as a sequence of Ntranslations, the enormous quantity of numeric approximation steps ismultiplied by N.

The single-digit number expression of the eagle cannot perform thelanding in an abstract single calculation step. It must calculate thelanding in an iterative progression of approximations, eachapproximation being an iteration of the full expression.

The eagle landing can be structurally related to the addition of twoplace-value numbers as an iterative resolution of successiveapproximations. The eagle number, structured through time, is composedof the sequence of vision field deltas, with each delta being a finerapproximation of place in the vision field. The succession of deltascorresponds to the order of digits of the place-value numbers. Eachvision field delta is resolved with a constant expression: the body ofthe eagle. Each resolution produces a new delta (the carry) to the nextiteration. This constant expression resolving each vision field deltacorresponds to the constant expression of the digit addition tableresolving each digit in turn with a propagating carry value. Both theeagle landing and two place-value numbers being added resolve as aniterative progression of approximations, with each approximationexpressed in a common format and resolved with a common behavior.

10.3.3 Two Views of Expression

The projected world frame and the eagle both express the same process ofthe eagle landing on the branch by way of symbolic calculation. Each isa very different expression of differentness and its interplay, but Inboth cases the eagle moves identically through space to land on thebranch.

The projected world frame provides a generalized accounting that isremote from the reality of the eagle. It can equally characterize asquirrel's landing on the branch or a saw cutting the branch. Itembodies an indifferent generality that precludes an intimatespecificity. While it may seem that the most encompassing generalitywill provide the deepest understanding, this is not always the case.Bounds of representation and nuances of meaning are lost in theexpressivity of the numbers and the generality of their application.

The eagle expresses the behavior of the eagle and nothing else. There isnothing common or general about the expression. Another bird mightproceed similarly but not identically. The landing expression of asquirrel might be quite different.

There is nothing incorrect about a numeric characterization within aprojected reference frame, but it contributes no insight whatever intohow a real eagle goes about landing on the branch. It cannot be directlyinstantiated and become an instance of a real eagle landing on a branch.It just saves the appearances of the process. While this is exactly howan imaginary, but very real looking, eagle landing on the branch withfeathers fluttering in the wind would be generated by computer for amovie, the real eagle does not care in the least how it appears whilelanding and least of all how its feathers flutter in the wind.

The projected world frame is an external observer's view ofdifferentness. Its characterizations of process may seem complete andprecise but may actually be unnecessarily complex and superficial. Aprojected reference frame is an arm's-length external view that cannotcharacterize the differentnesses inherent to the behavior itself. Naturecan be observed in terms of projected reference frames and place-valuenumbers, but nature itself speaks in terms of embedded reference framesand single-digit numbers representing direct interaction among specificdifferentnesses. The place-value number is an incidental encoding methodof humans and while projecting it onto nature can be very useful it doesnot always unlock her secrets. Table 10.1 compares place-value numbersand single-digit numbers.

TABLE 10.1 Comparison of place-value numbers and single-digit numbers.Place-value numbers Single digit numbers Indefinite range ofdifferentness Limited range of differentness Multiple digit positions Asingle digit position Each number uses the same set of Each number mayuse a different digits set of digits They interact with a sequence ofThey interact with a single behavior digit interactions Is cardinal andordinal Is neither cardinal nor ordinal Common algorithms forinteracting Each interaction is unique, no numbers common algorithms Toogeneral: wasted expressivity Just right: no wasted expressivity, no andcomputation wasted computation Common reference frame No common referentIndirect representation of Direct representation of differentnessdifferentness Place-value numbers are a general Single digit numbers area specific form that relate to the global form that relate directly toeach reference frame other locally Profligate with resolution behaviorParsimonious with resolution behavior Parsimonious with digit value setsProfligate with digit value sets and and interaction behaviorsinteraction behaviors Enables extended abstraction Does not supportabstraction in the conventional sense.

The notion of the single-digit number has allowed a convenientcomparison of an unfamiliar form of expression with the familiarplace-value numbers, but a single-digit number is not a number in anyconventional sense of the term. The single-digit number expression isjust another way of talking about pure differentness expression, such asa pure value expression or the pure association expression of the eagle.

10.3.4 The Eagle's Answer

For mathematics and computer science the goal of a computation or aprogram is an answer. At the end of the process of the eagle landingthere is not the appearance of an answer so much as the disappearance ofa question. The eagle is on its perch. The question of how to land onthe perch is resolved, not by supplying an answer but by progressivelyeliminating the question. Even if some kind of output that can becharacterized as “an answer” is produced it does not remain relevantbeyond the actual landing. The next landing problem will be slightlydifferent with a slightly different “answer.”

Nature is about the ongoing interplay of patterns of differentness, notabout numbers and answers. Number is an incidental encoding technique ofhumans. The notion of an answer is an artifact of a particular style ofhuman thinking.

10.4 Formalism vs. Form

From the point of view of formalism, differentness is expressed withstructures of passive symbols. Association and interaction of thesymbols is expressed as a process manipulating the symbols within theirstructures. Some think that understanding a process as a formal symbolicprocess is the important thing and that understanding a specific form ofexpression is unnecessary. The ultimate formalist expression of theeagle would be as a Turing machine program.

To produce a formal expression of the eagle, the expression of the eaglemust first be understood on its own terms. But, if one has achieved anunderstanding of the eagle on its own expressional terms, it isdifficult to see how binarizing, algorithmizing, sequentializing andreducing it to a Turing machine program can in any way enhance thatunderstanding.

One aspect of the formal symbolic computation point of view is that itmay be possible to elucidate the symbolic computation of a processexpression without understanding the form of that expression itself. Ifthe form of an expression is largely inaccessible, such as a brain orlife, then focusing on symbolic computations with similar behaviorsmight offer a path to understanding that is otherwise unavailable. Onemight, for instance, focus in great precision on the external spatialbehavior of the eagle in the projected reference frame and be able todetermine the differential equations that the eagle must be solving toperform its landing. But, if one looks inside the eagle, there isnothing like a numeric differential equation solve, and the notion thatit is solving differential equations does not help one in the leastunderstand the actual symbolic computations the eagle performs in itslanding and how it performs them.

The formal symbolic view, in its extreme—that symbolic computationindependent of form of expression is the only valid path tounderstanding—is not a fruitful point of view. Intrinsic form ofexpression cannot be ignored.

10.5 This Primitive—that Primitive

A point of view grows from a primitive concept. A theme of this book isthe consequences of choosing a primitive concept of expression: thenotion of a stateless primitive or the notion of a state holdingprimitive. Two choices of primitivity leading to profoundly differentpoints of view.

10.5.1 The Stateless Primitive

When stateless mappings are composed races and hazards produce incorrectnondeterministic results before settling to a correct deterministicresult. This can be remedied by adding a timing interval to theexpression that indicates when the nondeterministic behavior is over andthe expression has settled to the correct result. The logicalrelationships of the functions become isolated by the timing interval,so further composition must be in terms of the time intervals instead ofin terms of logical relationships. Time intervals cannot be composedconcurrently for the same reasons of races and hazards that thestateless mappings cannot be composed. They must be composedsynchronously or sequentially. In the modern computer circuits arecomposed synchronously, and operations are composed sequentially.

A sequence of operations cannot spontaneously sequence itself, so theremust be a notion of explicit sequence control to instantiate andun-instantiate each operation in sequence. Data flowing betweenoperations must be parked someplace while awaiting destinationoperations to get their turn in sequence, so there must be a notion ofan addressable memory.

There can be many valid sequences and many valid memory mappings. Thevariability of expression does not provide a coherent characterizationof process that supports comparison and validation. For a coherentcharacterization of behavior one must appeal to transitions in a statespace. Between the instantiation and un-instantiation of each sequentialoperation there exists a static state that can be conveniently sampledand examined. The expected behavior of the sequence of operations can becharacterized in terms of successive state transitions, and the behaviorof any instance of the expression can be validated by comparing theactual behavior of its state space to the expected behavior of the statespace.

The time interval, synchronous composition, sequential composition,explicit control, addressable memory and state space are allinterlinked, mutually supporting concepts that derive from the primitivenotion of stateless mapping. One cannot find one's way to a differentview by incremental adjustment of any of the concepts. One getscontinually pulled back into the view by the other interlinked concepts.For instance, if one attempts to consider concurrency, then one is facedwith the complexity of control and the indeterminacy of the state space.If one attempts to distribute memory, one is confronted with thevariability of sequence and the arbitrary mapping of memory. Attemptingto avoid the time interval leads back to races and hazards.

A conceptual point of view can appear general, encompassing and ideallysuited within its own context. It can also make other conceptual viewsappear less than ideal. Sequentiality appears straightforward and muchsimpler than concurrency, but this is only if sequentiality andconcurrency are looked at from the point of view of sequentiality.

10.5.2 The State-Holding Primitive

If one starts over with state-holding primitives that understand how tobehave among themselves, then a quite different conceptual regimeemerges.

A composition of state-holding primitives can cooperate in terms oflogical relationships to deterministically coordinate the flow ofresolution from primitive to primitive with no races and no hazards.This composition of logically determined behavior is indefinitelyextendable. Since there is no nondeterministic behavior, there is noneed of the concept of a time interval. Without the time interval thereis no need of synchronous sequentiality. Since the state holdingprimitives interact directly in terms of logical relationships, there isno need of explicit control. The state-holding behavior of theprimitives maintains the flow of resolution in the association pathsamong the primitives. There is no need for a notion of an addressablememory. Finally, since the behavior of a network of primitives iscompletely determined and fully characterized by logical relationships,there is no need of the notion of a state space. Since the behavior ofthe individual primitives of a network is not synchronized, there is noinstant of reliable sampleability making the notion of a state spacemeaningless anyway.

10.5.3 The Consequences

Table 10.2 contrasts the consequences of each point of primitive view.While the concepts in the left column lists concepts that must be addedto the concept of the stateless primitive to make it work, the rightcolumn lists behaviors integral to the composition behavior ofstate-holding primitives. The state-holding primitive is sufficient initself. No further supporting concepts need to be added.

TABLE 10.2 Consequences of primitive beginnings Concepts Necessary toSupport Behaviors Inherent to Primitives Primitives with StatelessBehavior with State-Holding Behavior Time interval Logical completenessSynchronous composition Distributed local behavior Sequentialcomposition Concurrency Explicit control Cooperation Addressable memoryDistributed content flow Extended state space Logical determinism

One view of primitivity leads to a view of process expression that is acontrived scaffolding of interlinked mutually supporting ad hoc conceptsthat makes process expression difficult, expensive and unreliable.Within this view concurrency is extra conceptual and is even moredifficult, expensive and unreliable.

The other view of primitivity leads to a simple conceptual milieu. Thesingle concept of the state-holding primitive suffices. No othersupporting concepts are necessary to express arbitrarily complexprocesses. In this view the expression of concurrency is simple andreliable, while the expression of sequentiality is a complex, expensiveand unreliable special case of concurrency. The state-holding primitiveleads to the simpler, more encompassing and unifying point of view.

10.6 Big Thengs—Little Thengs

Both nature and humans compose expressions of increasing appreciationstride. Humans begin with small thengs with small appreciation stride: asmall set of values and a small set of value transform rules such asbinary variables and Boolean logic functions. From such a well definedkernel of behavior, they and compose very large association expressionswith complex patterns of behavior that accumulate appreciation stridethrough time.

Nature also begins with small thengs providing a small set of values andvalue transform rules, such as elementary particles in the seethingdisorder of a pure value expression. It composes the small thengs intobig thengs with very large sets of values and very large sets of valuetransform rules. With a little more sense about the importance of timeand economy of behavior, nature composes these big thengs into smallassociation expressions with direct and immediate behaviors. Twoexceptions are the brain and DNA, which are very large associationexpressions.

10.6.1 Nature's Big Thengs

Nature's primitive behavior rules are continuous and undirected, butthey support the formation of persistent loci of collective behavior.Out of an uncoordinated chaos of particles the proton, the neuron andthe electron compose in continuous undirected behaviors to form 92atoms. These 92 atoms are stable loci (new thengs) asserting 92 newvalues and a multitude of new interaction rules. These new thengs with92 values, still in a seething chaos, associate with continuousundirected behavior to form larger stable loci, molecules (new thengs),asserting innumerable newer values and interaction rules.

When atoms interact to form molecules, the interaction behavior of theatoms within the molecule is continuous and undirected, but the value ofeach atom is preserved. When molecules interact, molecular value is notpreserved. When two molecules interact, the interacting molecular valuesdisappear, and new molecular values appear. Because the atoms retaintheir identity they are a discrete units of molecular change. Molecularinteractions are, therefore, discrete and directed. With molecules, purevalue expression has emerged from the continuous behavior of particlesand atoms.

As these molecules become bigger and more complex, the possibility ofdirected association emerges. Molecules with two ends that interactdifferently allow the building of association structures, such as thecell membrane, that can express a bounding association relationship of apure value expression.

As molecules become even bigger and more complex, proteins emerge thatexpress very specific value behaviors within a very large range of valuedifferentness. Molecules develop an input end and an output end, and aunit of association emerges. Units of association can associate directlyto form association expressions, or they can serve as receptor proteinsto associate pure value expressions through their bounding membranes.

With each stage of composition the components of expression are subsumedby a wholeness of behavior, which is not a simple sum of the components.Each stage of composition creates a new domain of differentness andappreciation behavior. Atoms are not particles and do not behave likeparticles. They create a new domain of differentness and appreciationamong themselves. Molecules create a new domain of differentness andappreciation. Complex molecules such as proteins create yet anotherdomain of differentness and appreciation.

From the point of view of nature, these persistent structures ofassociation are just bigger thengs with more complex sets of valuetransform rules drifting in the greater pure value expression. Thebigger thengs, however, begin taking themselves somewhat more seriouslyas an ultimate referent for all they encounter. Eventually very bigthengs arise that call themselves human and invent things like numbersand arithmetic, and many other referents to project onto otherexpressions in their neighborhood.

10.6.2 Composition Strategies

Humans are methodical and orderly. Nature is opportunistic anddisorderly. Humans begin with a precisely defined kernel and increasestride of appreciation by composing precisely defined patterns ofassociation through levels of hierarchical composition, accumulatingmore and more complex association encoding in terms of a few values.Nature begins with an enormous chaos of behavior and increases stride ofappreciation by spontaneously composing persistent loci, new thengs,through levels of hierarchical composition that assert a greater andgreater range of unique values and unique appreciation behaviors. Humanstend to minimize value differentiation, nature tends to minimizeassociation differentiation.

10.7 Observer—Participant

The points of view of an observer and a participant can be quitedifferent. Consider a population of free but contained particles.

10.7.1 Behaving Particles

There is no observer and no reference frame. The particles areautonomously behaving and are entirely on their own. Each particle cansense proximity of interaction with another particle and knows how tobehave in an interaction. Differentness for a particle is proximate ornot proximate and kind of particle. If proximate, the proximateparticles appreciate their differentness by interacting.

The autonomously behaving particle expression itself is a fullydistributed, autonomously behaving pure value expression. Thedifferentness within the system is appreciated by the particlesthemselves. There is no reference frame nor spatial metric integral tothe expression itself. A particle appreciates nothing about relativeplace in space or path through space relative to the other particles. Itcan only appreciate proximity to kind of particle. It can appreciatenothing of the extended system of which it is part.

10.7.2 Observed Particles

An observer is a sufficiently complex expression that can project areference frame of sufficient precision onto another expression beingobserved and internalize the observation. Differentness for the observeris place in the reference frame and kind of particle. Process for theobserver is motion within the reference frame and particle interactions.The observer's internal representation is necessarily referential andsymbolic. It cannot be an instance of the observed expression.

In this case, unlike the case of the eagle, there is a very largedifference in stride of appreciation between the observer expressioncapable of projecting a reference frame and internalizing the resultsand the expression of the particle system. The behavior of the particlescan be relatively very simple and the observer expression can be complexenough to embody a useful characterization.

10.7.3 Observer and Participant

A complex observer expression is a meta view in relation to a simpleobserved expression. It can encompass and appreciate a wholeness of theparticle system that the individual particles or even the system ofparticles itself cannot appreciate. While the observer characterizationwithin the reference frame may seem complete and thorough in itself, theexperiences and appreciations of the particles themselves are notcaptured in this characterization. The observer might consider theprojected reference frame as part of the reality of the particle systemitself, but it is not. The observed participants manage to behavewithout the projected reference frame and without any possibility ofappreciating anything like an encompassing reference frame, relativeplace in space or trajectory through space. An individual particle hasno stride of appreciation: no reference frame. From the point of view ofan individual particle it is absolutely motionless, and nothing everhappens. An electron has enough stride of appreciation to senseproximity and to interact by, for instance, flipping its spin, but itdoes not have sufficient stride of appreciation to remember the previousspin. It can have no appreciation that anything is different.

While observation through a projected reference frame appears tocompletely and thoroughly characterize the system of particles, it doesnot characterize the experience and point of view of the participants.To properly characterize an observed expression, the points of view ofthe participants within the observed expression must also be considered.

The observation of the eagle through a projected spatial reference framecharacterizes the behavior of the eagle in terms very specific to theobserver. This provides a partial picture of the expression of theeagle, but to completely understand the eagle, the observing expressionmust also encompass the eagle's point of view. The notion ofsingle-digit numbers is an attempt to bridge the numeric projection viewof an observer and the pure association expression of the eagle.

An observer is just another expression, just another participant withits own inherent limitations of appreciation: an arrogant bulk messingabout with other “observed” expressions. While an observer expressionmay be able to observe and thoroughly characterize within itself anexpression that is much simpler than itself, it is not capable of fullyappreciating itself or another expression of comparable complexity. Anobserved expression thoroughly characterized within the context of anobserver expression that cannot, itself, be thoroughly characterized isa fundamental quandary, at its most mischievous when observer andobserved are commensurable such as humans observing humans or photonsobserving photons.

Complex expressions can effectively observe simple expressions,commensurable expressions cannot effectively observe each other, andclearly, simple expressions cannot observe complex expressions. Acomplex expression observing simpler expressions is the realm ofscience. Commensurate expressions observing each other is the realm ofpsychology. Simpler expressions observing more complex expressions isthe realm of sociology and philosophy.

At some level of complexity an observing expression might strive totranscend its limitations and glimpse itself and its greaterencompassing expression. The only path to transcendent appreciation isthe accumulation and organization of experience, which might possess astride of appreciation that the observing expression itself does notposses. But the inherent limitations of the observing expression arestill a quandary. The enterprise of science is an attempt to transcendthis quandary by accumulating and trying to organize experience withexperiment and theory.

10.8 Invisible Behaviors and Illusory Behaviors

An observed autonomously behaving expression behaves with an intrinsicpoint of view. An observing expression must discover a point of viewthat most clearly elucidates the observed expression and its point ofview. There may be limitations of interaction between observer andobserved, and there may be limitations of characterization capacity inthe observing expression that precludes many points of view. There maybe behaviors that are only observable and expressible from particularviewpoints and that can be neither expressed nor observed from otherviewpoints.

It may be that any single point of view has illusory behaviors thatobscure and render invisible real behaviors. It may be that any singlepoint of view is never sufficient in itself. Illusory behaviorstypically occur at the limiting edges of a point of view. One must avoidthe dangerous edges of the flat earth. One cannot, in principle, travelto the heavenly moon in its crystalline sphere. Concurrency isinherently complex and nondeterministic. The illusions of a point ofview obscure behaviors that are consequently invisible to the point ofview.

From a different point of view the illusions disappear and the invisiblebecomes visible. One can sail as far as one likes toward the edge of theworld without falling off. One can travel to the moon. Concurrency canbe simple and deterministic.

The illusions are an inherent part of a point of view. From within apoint of view they are just inherent limitations about which nothing canbe done. They can only be transcended from a different point of view.One must step outside the point of view for a different perspective. Ifone cannot discover the other point of view, the illusions can seem veryreal, inevitable and unavoidable.

10.8.1 Complementary Chaos

The invocation model consists of two complementary points of view. Apure value expression can only be observed from the point of view of thebehavior of the values. If one observes it only from the point of viewof spatial relationships, it appears to be undifferentiated chaos.

A pure association expression can only be observed in terms of itsassociation relationships. Observing the expression in terms of thebehavior of the values without regard to their place in the associationstructure appears to be an undifferentiated chaos of identical valuesincoherently transitioning.

What is invisible, obscured by an illusion of chaos, from one point ofview becomes visible orderliness from the other point of view.

10.8.2 Complementary Order

Value expression and association expression can be considered two quitedifferent views of process expression with a complementary relationship.Neither is viable in the absence of the other. There must be anexpression of association in a pure value expression, and there must bean expression of value transition in a pure association expression.Neither can be observed in terms of the other, but they cooperate withinterweaving expressivity to transcend their individual limitations andform expressions of indefinite complexity that must be considered interms of both points of view.

10.8.3 Chaotic Flow or Orderly Flow

Consider the skewed wavefronts of Section 7.2.5. If they are viewed interms of time relationships and spatial relationships in the context ofa spatial reference frame projected onto the expression, they appearchaotic and uncoordinated. It might be possible to derive some complexformulas of space and time to tease order out of the observed chaos, butthe order can be directly appreciated by just changing point of view.The behavior of the wavefronts is quite orderly from their own point ofview of logical coordination relationships. If they are externallyviewed in terms of the logical relationships that are determining theirbehavior, the appearance of order emerges. The appearance of disorder,or the invisibility of order, was just an illusion of a particularobservational point of view. The projected point of view can see alarger picture than the participants but it cannot see the orderlybehavior of the participants in the larger picture that it sees.

10.8.4 Asymmetric Points of View

Sequentiality and concurrency are two asymmetric points of view. Thepoint of view of sequentiality does not encompass concurrency and cannotsee the simplicity of concurrent behavior, the point of view ofconcurrency encompasses sequentiality as a special case of concurrency.

10.8.5 Finding a Point of View

There is no final right answer. There is only the best that an arrogantbulk can accomplish with hints such as inconsistency, incoherence,nonconformance with experience, overly capable concepts, inconvenient orarbitrary limits, and so forth.

10.9 Slippery Words

A way of saying can subtly convey a point of view. It has beenreiterated for almost this entire book that an expression recognizes apresented input and asserts an appreciating behavior. One might also saythat the behavior of an expression is controlled by its presented input.Or that an expression adapts its behavior to its presented input. Orthat an expression manipulates the presented data. Is an expression justa static referent in space through which dynamic change flows? Does anexpression grab its input and consume it? These are markedly differentviews of who is doing what to whom, of what is primary activity, of whatis secondary activity, and of where authority resides.

American computers execute instructions, while British computers obeyorder codes. The American phrasing conjures up a dynamic andauthoritative computer taking command of its instructions andshepherding them along. The British phrasing conjures up a completelypassive machine being commanded by the order codes. Both arecharacterizing identical circumstances, but the implicit assignments ofactivity, passivity and authority—a point of view of thecircumstances—are quite different.

The persistent is not appreciable apart from the transient. Thetransient is not appreciable apart from persistent. Is differentnessflowing through a structure of association relationships or is astructure of association relationships flowing through a sea ofdifferentness. Change can only occur in a context of persistence.Persistence can only occur in a context of change. Where is thegrounding? It is in a point of view.

10.10 Summary

A point of view cannot be avoided. Every expression behaves with anintrinsic point of view. Expressions observe other expressions at somelevel of mutual understanding that is sufficient to support interactionbehaviors among themselves. Some expressions may become complex enoughto go beyond direct interaction and may begin observing or playing withother expressions to build internal models of the other expressions.

To go beyond direct interaction, an observing expression must transcendits intrinsic point of view and adopt an observational point of view andproject it onto the observed expression. The task for the observer is tocharacterize the observed expression as completely as possible withinits own expression by interacting with the observed expression withinthe context of the projected point of view. The problem is that theobserver has no ground truth. It cannot determine a priori what thecharacterization of the observed expression should be or what theappropriate point of view might be.

A chosen point of view determines what can be observed by andcharacterized within the observing expression. Different observers mayhave different observational concerns and capabilities. There might beaspects of an observed expression that are invisible to a point of view.A point of view may project properties onto an expression that are notinherent in the expression, such as complexity, chaos, or extensibility.It may actually create behaviors not inherent in the observed expressionbut that are artifactual illusions of the point of view.

What an observer sees critically depends on how it looks. Finding anappropriate point of view to characterize an observed expression is afundamental problem. There are no definitive guidelines nor absolutelycorrect answers. It is easy to construct a point of view built ofarbitrarily sufficient mortars that seems to be complete and definitivebut really says nothing about the inherent nature of the observedexpression. If it is so easy to be misguided, how can one tell when onemight be right? There is no final certifiable correct answer.Discovering an appropriate point of view is a search guided by indirectclues. There are only interacting expressions with points of view doingwhat they can with the resources at hand.

11 Referential and Autonomous Process Expression

An autonomous process expression spontaneously behaves entirely on itsown merits. It must be a complete expression in all respects. If anyexpression is missing, it will fail to behave. A referential processexpression does not spontaneously behave on its own merits and so doesnot have to be a complete expression in all respects.

11.1 Autonomous to Referential

Referential expression emerges from autonomous expression.

11.1.1 Primitive Expressivity

The most primitive expression is a single primitive theng, its valuesand its value transform rules. A primitive theng does not express aprocess all by itself. A process is at least two primitive thengsassociating, forming a name and spontaneously resolving. At this level,expressivity is symmetric. Each primitive theng is a differentness to beappreciated by the other. Each primitive theng is referent for thedifferentness of the other. Each changes its value in the resolutionbehavior.

11.1.2 Loss of Symmetry

When a persistent locus of association occurs, the symmetry disappears.Just as a primitive theng is a persistence relating changing values, astructure of associated thengs is a greater persistence relating agreater range of changing values. It has a larger stride ofappreciation.

The association structure encounters individual thengs and their valuesand responds with a wavefront of value change flowing through theexpression to an output boundary that asserts output values that areappreciations of the encountered input values. Note that the associationstructure appreciates the differentness of values of the encounteredthengs. The encountered thengs do not have sufficient stride ofappreciation to “appreciate” the association structure in anysignificant sense.

11.1.3 Meaning

The association structure itself does not change. The associationstructure, being persistent over many encounters of input values,becomes a de facto referent for the differentness of the encounteredvalues. The expression imparts its own arbitrary meaning to theencountered differentnesses, a meaning that does not necessarilycorrespond to any meaning imparted to the same differentnesses byanother expression.

11.1.4 Process and Data

The asymmetry can be characterized by the notions of process and data.The association structure can be called a process. The encounteredvalues and the value changes flowing through the association structurecan be called data. The process expression is anappreciator/referent/observer of the encountered data.

11.1.5 Intermediate Memory

Intermediate persistence memories can occur in the process expressionthat relate to and record specific encounter experiences. Upon similarencounter experiences the memories can present values to the expressionthat contribute to its appreciation of each similar encounter. Thememories are integral to the process expression and they may bedistributed throughout the process expression.

11.1.6 Internal Models of Encountered Expressions

An association expression may experience encounters not just with databut with other expressions also. The intermediate memory accumulatesexpressions of encounter experiences, and so assists the greaterassociation expression in appreciating its subsequent encounters. Thecontent of this memory is an observer's internal model of externalencounters. The content of the intermediate memory is a partialreferential expression of an external encounter. The partial referentialexpression along with the interpreting behavior of the greaterassociation expression is an abstract model of an external expression.It is the best characterization of the external expression that theobserving expression can muster.

An intermediate memory and its content are unique to an expression andare integral to the appreciation behavior of the expression. No otherexpression needs to be able to appreciate the values from the memories.The greater association expression generates the contents of thememories and then uses the contents of the memories. Even if the grossstructures of the intermediate memory and greater association expressionare similar among different expressions, there is no need for thespecific content of intermediate memories or for the fine structure ofthe greater association expression to be similar among the greaterassociation expressions. Even if external behavior is identical amonggreater association expressions, it does not imply identical internalexpression. Think of all the ways of expressing binary addition withBoolean logic functions.

11.1.7 Common Symbols

Association expressions, however, can agree among themselves on a commonform of external expression. They can collaborate through a mutuallyagreed-on common set of differentnesses (symbols) whose associationstructures (language) are identically or at least similarly appreciatedamong individual expressions. A specific structure of associated symbolsis a symbolic referential expression.

A symbolic referential expression does not autonomously behave on itsown merits but must be appreciated by an association expression. Oneassociation expression can leave a symbolic referential expression lyingabout, and another association expression can encounter it and interpretit in terms of its own appreciation behavior.

11.1.8 Symbolic Processes

Rather than relying on the inherent appreciation behaviors of areceiving association expression, a symbolic referential expressionmight include its own unique rules of appreciation behavior expressedwith the same symbols and expressed simply enough for any associationexpression to grasp in terms of its own inherent appreciation behaviors.This will be called a symbolic process expression. A symbolic processexpression can then be appreciated by a receiving association expressionin terms of manipulating the symbolic expression according to thesymbolic rules of behavior instead of being appreciated in terms of itsown inherent behaviors. A symbolic process becomes not just similarlyinterpreted but identically interpreted among association expressions.The variations of individual expression and appreciation can beminimized to insignificance with the formalism of symbolic processexpression.

Symbolic process expression relies on a very high level of persistence.Symbolic process expression fails if the symbols change or if thebehavior rules change. The whole point is that, among themselves andthrough time, all participating association expressions see the sameassociation structure of symbols and the same rules of behavior.

11.1.9 Transcendent Expression

Symbolic process expression is an external form of expression completein itself and unambiguous in its own terms: a universal languageidentically appreciable by all expressions transcending the limitationsof the association expressions themselves. Symbolic process expressionoffers a stable standard of communication among association expressionsand a persistence of memory greater than the association expressionsthemselves.

11.2 Referential to Autonomous

A symbolic process expression is of no significance in itself. It isonly significant in that the expressed behavior is realized. There are anumber of ways that the behavior of a symbolic process expression can berealized.

11.2.1 By Association Expression

An association expression can interpret the symbolic process expressionaccording to its rules of behavior.

11.2.2 By Artificial Expression

A symbolic process expression and its rules of behavior can be embodiedin a specifically constructed artificial association expression.

By Direct Mapping

The symbols and their interaction rules can be mapped to spontaneousbehaviors, and the behaviors organized according to the symbolic processexpression. The symbolic process expression becomes an autonomouslybehaving artificial expression that realizes the single symbolic processexpression.

By Interpreter

An artificial expression that embodies just the rules of behavior and alarge symbol memory can be constructed to interpret symbolic processexpressions. Symbol values can be physically represented in a commonaddressable memory, and an artificial expression can be built that canmanipulate the physical representations of the symbols in memoryaccording to the rules of behavior by shuffling symbol values around inmemory.

A referential symbolic process expression can be translated into theinterpreter's internal referential form of expression and placed in itsmemory. The behavior of the expression is then realized, as theartificial interpreter expression is directed by the internal expressionof the symbolic process and manages the flow of content through memory.

An interpreter can be general in that any symbolic process expressionmight be mapped into it and have its symbols manipulated.

Mixed Artificial Expression

The direct mapping and the interpreter are two extremes of realizing thebehavior of a symbolic process expression with artificial autonomousexpression. There can also be a middle ground, which is partlyinterpretive and partly directly mapped.

The most familiar mixed artificial expression is the conventionalcomputer. Expressions mapped to the computer are partitionedhierarchically at the level of arithmetic/logical operations. Thegreater partition expression is a network of references toarithmetic/logical operations, and the lesser partition expressions arethe arithmetic/logical operations. The lesser expressions are directlymapped to artificial autonomous expressions, and the greater expressionis interpreted. A set of directly mapped arithmetic and logicaloperations are collected in an arithmetic-logic unit (ALU) within whichthey can be referenced by an interpreter. The greater expression ismapped into a sequence of references to memory and references to theavailable arithmetic-logic functions and placed into the memory of theinterpreter. A sequence controller then scans the internal referentialexpression, enlivening it in terms of content flow through memory andthrough the ALU.

Convenient Realization

The mixed artificial expression is a convenient means of realizing alarge class of symbolic process expressions. The interpretive aspectmakes it a general interpreter. Symbolic process expressions mapped intothe mixed artificial expression do not have to refer to any of the ALUoperations, in which case it behaves as a pure interpreter. Anexpression that does use the ALU operations can behave much moreefficiently. A wide range of referential expressions can be quickly andsimply enlivened by mapping them into a mixed artificial expression.

11.3 Economies of Referential Expression

Because a symbolic process expression does not behave, it can transcendthe gritty details of autonomous expression and offer a convenienteconomy, generality and flexibility of expression, by taking advantageof various forms of shorthand expression. It can assume universalconventions that need not be explicitly expressed. It can assume commonsubexpressions that need not be explicitly expressed. It can beconvenient to an originator of expression such as a human instead ofspecific to some autonomous behavior environment. It can be general inthe sense that a single symbolic referential expression can representand map to many other forms of referential and autonomous expression.

11.3.1 Hierarchical Parsimony

A common subexpression that occurs many times in an expression can bereferred to many times but need be symbolically expressed only once. Ifa process has 1000 additions, a symbolic process need not explicitlyexpress the adder 1000 times. It can express the adder once and refer tothe adder expression 1000 times. When mapping to autonomous behavior,the references can be expanded. The single adder expression might bereplicated to 1000 autonomous adder expressions, and one associated witheach reference or a single autonomous adder expression might be usedover and over in time, with each reference being associated to a singleautonomous adder in sequence. A referential symbolic process expressionis a template that can be mapped to other forms of referential symbolicprocess expression and to forms of autonomous expression.

Multiple references to a common expression is a hierarchical partitionrelationship and can be repeated at each level of hierarchy. No part ofa referential symbolic process expression has to be expressed more thanonce, enabling a convenient economy of expression when commonalities ofexpression are present.

11.3.2 Partitioning Uniformity

Each reference is both a hierarchical and a lateral boundary and thestructure of references directly expresses the hierarchical and lateralstructure of behavior boundaries of the process. The hierarchy bottomsout with value transform rules, which have no hierarchical or lateralreference structure. The lateral structure has no inherent limits.

A symbolic process expression can assume that all of its boundaries areidentical, providing a uniform template that can be partitioned in manyways and mapped to varied autonomous behavior domains. The identicalreferential boundaries of the symbolic process expression might bepartitioned across multiple transistors, across multiple instructions,across multiple threads, across multiple computers, into differenthierarchical regimes, and so on.

11.3.3 Coordination Simplicity

A referential symbolic process expression assumes that its identicalboundaries are coordinated identically with a universal coordinationprotocol in terms of the completeness criterion and need not explicitlyexpress coordination behavior. As a referential symbolic processexpression is mapped to autonomous behavior, its boundaries get mappedinto and stretched across different regimes of expression, bothhierarchical and lateral, each requiring a different coordinationprotocol. Lower level coordination boundaries might be mapped to thecompleteness criterion and cycles or to time intervals and a clock.Higher level coordination boundaries might be mapped to sequencecontrol, fork and join, semaphores, messages, and so on. Even higherlevel boundaries might be mapped to various forms of communicationchannels. Each autonomous coordination protocol implements in one way oranother the behavior of the completeness criterion. A symbolic processexpression provides a uniform template ready to be stretched and mappedand filled in with appropriate coordination behaviors.

11.3.4 Resource Indifference

A referential symbolic process expression can be completely referentialdown to the expression of the values and the value transform rules. Itneed not consider any particular detail of autonomous behavior orcondition of available autonomous resources. There might be 1000references to add, but the symbolic process expression need not beconcerned with whether there might be 1000 adders available or only oneadder available or with how an adder might be expressed. The issuesrelated to specific or limited autonomous resources can be ignored bythe symbolic process expression and resolved when it is mapped toautonomous expression.

11.4 Archetypal Referential Expression

A symbolic process can ignore many of the messy details of autonomousexpression and express just essential relationships. It can useshorthand expression and assume universal conventions. It provides atemplate of essential relationships that can be mapped to many otherforms of referential expression and to a wide range of autonomousexpressions. Might it be possible that there is a most general, mostconvenient, most mappable form of symbolic process expression for agiven process: a single archetypal expression of a process that capturesthe essence of the process and that can map to all possible referentialand autonomous expressions of the process?

11.4.1 Elusive Essence

The essence of a process is the interactions of the differentnessesindependent of how the differentnesses and their interactions might beexpressed. While this essence is embodied in every possible expressionof a process, like a platonic form, the essence itself cannot bedirectly expressed. How does one express something independently of howit might be expressed?

Consider binary digit addition. The essence of binary digit additionthat all expressions of binary digit addition must relate to is themapping of values, which can be expressed with a set of value transformrules as a pure value expression. While the mapping expression might bethe essence of binary digit addition, it is not the essence of numericaddition. Binary addition is just one specific form of numeric addition.Numbers can be expressed and added with any radix.

Can the essence of numeric addition be referentially expressed. Sincenumbers are indefinitely extensible in precision and range theiraddition cannot be expressed as a symbolic mapping; their addition,however, can be expressed as a symbolic process that iterates over asequence of digits of whatever radix from the beginning of the number tothe end of the number. The strategy of iteration can vary. An iterationmight directly map one, two or more digits per iteration. The radix canvary. There is a range of possible referential expressions, all equallyexpressive and no one expression more essential than any other. Symbolicexpression of the essence of numeric addition eludes capture.

11.4.2 A Chosen Standard

The best that can be done is to choose a form of expression that mostconveniently embodies some essence and invest in it as a standard. Thecriterion of convenience might be some familiarity, or minimality, ormaximality, and so on.

Originator Familiarity

A standard form might be chosen because it is familiar and convenient toan originator of expressions and is easily mappable to autonomous andother forms of expression. An originator might find it most convenientto express radix 10 numbers. It is easy to translate any radix toanother radix that might be required for autonomous expression such asradix 2. There might simply be a mapping between names familiar to anoriginator and names familiar to an autonomous expression. For example,a cell expression knows nothing of the human names adenosine, cytosine,guanine and thymine but, components of the cell understand perfectly howto recognize and interact with the real values corresponding to thehuman names. Programming languages are attempts at a standard form ofexpression based on mathematical language or on human language that iseasily mappable to a conventional computer.

Expressional Minimality

A standard form of expression might be based on some criterion ofminimality. A Turing machine, for instance, is based on minimal valuedifferentiation. The pure forms of expression at each end of thespectrum are minimal forms of expression. A pure value expression hasminimal association differentiation. A pure association expression hasminimal value differentiation.

An expression encoded in the middle of the spectrum does not provide thesame minimal directness of expression. It can possess arbitraryproportionalities of value differentiation and associationdifferentiation. The continual un-encoding and re-encoding is an addedcomplication that is not present with the pure forms of expression. Apure form of expression can easily be mapped to an encoded expression inthe middle of the spectrum, but an encoded expression may not be aseasily mappable to a pure form of expression.

Expressional Maximality

The referential expression with the finest granularity of hierarchicaland lateral structure of boundaries expressing a maximum of distributedand concurrent behavior offers the most flexibility of partitioning andmapping to the greatest range of other forms of referential andautonomous expression. A pure value expression has maximal valuedifferentiation. A pure association expression has maximal associationdifferentiation.

Sequentiality

Sequentiality is widely considered a standard form of process expressionthat is universally familiar and optimally convenient. There are manymotivations for sequentiality. There is the imperative of the algorithm.There is the supposed unruly behavior of concurrent functions. There isthe fact that input and output boundaries are inherently sequential:that every boundary within an expression sequentially iterates oversuccessive presentations of input and assertions of output.

Some consider that conditional sequential iteration that expands throughtime to accommodate to circumstances is a key factor of sequentialexpression that makes it superior to other forms of expression andmandates that all expression be strictly sequential. But sequentialiteration can occur in the midst of concurrent behavior. Naturalexpressions that are expressed internally with massive concurrencyiterate to accommodate to circumstances. The iteration of individualnatural expressions can occur in a concurrently behaving associationstructure of many natural expressions. Conditional sequential iterationis a fundamental behavior present in all forms of process expression,but this does not imply that all expression must be strictly sequential.

Sequentiality might be considered a standard form of expression becauseany expression can be mapped to a sequential expression, providing aconvenient universal form of expression through which all other forms ofexpression can be mapped and compared. But the fact that all other formsof expression can be mapped to a sequence does not mean that a sequencecan be conveniently mapped to other forms of expression or thatsequential expressions can be conveniently compared. The variability ofsequence and the arbitrariness of memory mapping make sequentialexpression far too opaque to be a standard of comparison or to be astandard of expression conveniently mappable to other forms ofexpression.

While sequentiality is an inherent behavior in all forms of processexpression, while strictly sequential expression has been a standard oforiginal process expression for several centuries, strict sequentialityis nevertheless not an optimal standard for original expression.

11.4.3 Point of View

A referential expression like any other expression must assume a pointof view. There is no single point of view that encompasses all otherpoints of view, and there is no inherent rationale for choosing onepoint of view as a standard. In fact, differing points of view pose thegreatest barrier to archetypal expression. Points of view are not alwaysmappable among themselves. The reference frame expression of the eaglelanding cannot be mapped into an instance of a real eagle landing. Theexpression of the real eagle landing cannot be mapped into a referenceframe expression.

A point of view can focus attention on aspects that are important andignore aspects that are not important, and what is important from oneview may not be what is important from another view. From the point ofview of mathematics, the behavior of a particular process is important.Variety of expression is unimportant. From the point of view of computerscience, the variety of expression is important.

It may be more important for an archetypal expression to incorporatemultiple points of view rather than to adopt a single point of view. Theinvocation model, for instance, incorporates two views of the expressionof differentness: association differentiation and value differentiation.

11.4.4 Summary

A referential expression can be a general form that can be translated toa wide range of other forms of referential expression and to a widevariety of autonomous expressions, however, referential expression fallsshort of providing a single archetypal expression that captures thefundamental essence of a process that can be mapped to all possibleforms of the process. This is because there can be great variety ofequally valid referential expressions and because differing points ofview do not map among themselves. There can also be a great variety ofsymbolic expression of differentnesses and behaviors. Symbolicdifferentness can be expressed with colors, with symbols, withmolecules, with sounds, with graphics, and so on.

There is no philosophically essential form or standard form ofreferential expression. All that can be done is to choose a convenientform of expression and invest in it as a standard form.

11.5 Referential of Natural

Can an association expression create a symbolic process expression ofitself or of a another equally complex association expression?

11.5.1 The Internal Expression

The internal structure of an association expression and its valuememories are unique to itself. No other expression needs to appreciatethe internal expression. Other expressions only need to appreciateexternal behaviors among themselves. The internal expression of anassociation expression is typically inaccessible and inscrutable toanother expression.

The internal expression of an association expression is the means of itsstride of appreciation, which cannot be sufficient to fully appreciateits own internal expression. An association expression is partassociation expression and part referential expression. The problem isessentially to build an internal referential expression model thatencompasses the internal referential expression and the associationexpression itself. The model referential expression must be much largerthan the internal referential capacity of the association expression.

Can the stride of appreciation of an association expression besufficient to appreciate the internal expression of a much simplerassociation expression such as an amoeba?

11.5.2 Sampling an Amoeba

A symbolic process expression is static, so it must embody a sampledinstant of the expression of the amoeba. When the symbolic expression isrealized it will continue the behavior of the amoeba from the instant ofthe sampling. An amoeba is an expression with ongoing dynamic behaviorwhose internal intermediate memories are continually changing contents.Being also a generally concurrent expression, there is no predictableinstant of reliable sampleability of the complete extended state of theamoeba.

An observing expression has its own limitation. It must take a certainamount of time to sample and appreciate the expression of the amoeba.During this time the amoeba continues to behave and change. So, even ifthere was a predictable instant of stability, another natural expressioncannot instantaneously gather a complete sample of the amoeba. A sampleover a time interval of a single amoeba will result in a blurredreferential expression of the amoeba. Another approach might be tosample many amoeba over time to build a referential expression of anaverage instant of a typical amoeba.

Dynamically evolving association expressions are continually changing toaccommodate circumstances. Any sample of an amoeba expression will be inmidstride. It will be an expression without a clear beginning andwithout a clear current state. The amoeba itself, being a product ofbillions of years of continuous behavior, never had an initial state noran instant of stable state. How can it be expressed with a staticexpression that begins from a stable initial state? How can a viableinitial state be determined for an autonomous expression from a“blurred” or “average instant” referential expression?

The notion of one association expression completely understandinganother commensurate association expression has fundamental problemswith accessibility and sufficiency of resources. There is a fundamentalproblem with time between the dynamic nature of an associationexpression, its limited observation capabilities and the static natureof a symbolic referential expression.

11.6 Referential to Natural

If a faithful symbolic process expression of an existing associationexpression cannot be obtained by observation can a symbolic processexpression be created that maps to an artificial autonomous expressionindistinguishable from an existing association expression? This can taketwo forms.

The first form is a symbolic process expression that captures the formof expression of the amoeba, and when mapped to autonomous behavior, isan instance of an amoeba, not identical to any existing amoeba but afully viable instance of an amoeba indistinguishable both internally andexternally from any other instance of an amoeba.

The second form is a symbolic process expression that when mapped toautonomous behavior produces the same behaviors as an amoeba but with aninternal expression that is completely different. It is a robot amoeba.The autonomous expression saves the behavioral appearances of the amoebabut not the internal substance.

Saving the appearances is a uniquely mathematical point of view thatderives from the mathematical strategy of abstracting out variety ofexpression as irrelevant. The Turing test exemplifies this point ofview. If the results (the external behaviors) are identical(indistinguishable), then the processes are equivalent and anydifference in their specific expression is irrelevant. The symbolicprocess expression of the robot amoeba is fully representative. This maysatisfy a mathematician, but it will not satisfy a biologist and shouldnot satisfy a computer scientist.

The problem with saving the appearances is that it cannot be ensuredthat all appearances have been saved. There might lurk in the internalexpression infrequent, nondeterministic appreciations exhibitingbehaviors that have not been observed or compared and whose appearancecannot have been saved. If the goal is to understand the existingexpression, simply saving the appearances is not sufficient.

11.7 Pure Value Referential Expression

A pure value referential expression is a collection of value transformrules specifying the patterns of interaction among symbol values. A purevalue expression is almost entirely lateral with very littlehierarchical structure. All the values in a pure value expression mustbe unique, so there is no commonality of expression to exploit. Thesymbol interactions are self-coordinating, so there are no coordinationprotocols to ignore. The symbolic value transform rules are a one-to-onemapping to the behaviors of an autonomous pure value expression, sothere is no opportunity to ignore resource issues. In short, there areno opportunities for convenient economies of expression in a pure valuereferential expression.

Mapping a pure value referential expression it is a different matter tomap an existing referential expression to an autonomous pure valueexpression is very different from mapping an association expression. Onemust find just the right spontaneously behaving resources with theappropriate interaction behaviors. For a large expression this could bedifficult to impossible. Humans are not facile with creating pure valueexpressions. Humans minimize value expression and maximize associationexpression. Logical operators are typically expressed as pure valueexpressions. The truth table of a logical operator is the set of valuetransform rules of a pure value expression and are typically implementedas a network of transistor switches. The insides of a transistor, whichis a fully associated pure value expression, is the largest autonomouspure value expression that humans typically employee.

Pure value expression is not an economic medium of referentialexpression nor a convenient medium of artificial autonomous expression.While nature might create a soup bowl processor in the form of thebiological cell, humans are more facile with association expression.

11.8 Continual Mapping of Referential to Autonomous

Association expression has been discussed in terms of a persistentgreater expression with less persistent memories that containreferential expressions that change and which are appreciated by thegreater association expression. There is another relationship ofreferential expression to association expression to consider and that iswhen a referential expression is more persistent than the greaterassociation expression and the greater association expression derivesits persistence by being continually mapped from a more persistentreferential expression.

The biological cell is such an expression where the DNA referentialexpression is continually mapped into the autonomous expression of thecell. The components of the cell expression are as transient as thedifferentnesses flowing through the expression. The form and structureof the greater association expression persists by virtue of a continuousstream of new components mapped from DNA that spontaneously organizeinto the greater association expression of the cell. This is how thepure value expressions of the cell, which consume themselves inresolving, continually renew and persist

Another form of most persistent referential expression is a constitutionand canon of laws and traditions of a society continually mapping ontoand structuring successive generations of constituent associationexpressions.

11.9 Summary

An autonomous expression is complete and behaves on its own expressionalmerits. A referential expression is an incomplete symbolic expressionthat does not behave on its own merits. Because it is incomplete anddoes not behave it can appeal to conventions and commonalities in ashorthand of process expression. One might consider referential symbolicexpression to be an abstract invention of humans but it is, in fact,integral to all process expression.

Referential expression occurs within autonomous expressions as thecontent of the intermediate persistence memories forming internal modelsof experience. It occurs as a means of communication among autonomousexpressions and as a persistent means of externally storingrepresentations of experience. It occurs as a template to be mapped toautonomous behavior by filling in the incomplete parts and enliveningthe expression. The completed expression might be mapped directly toautonomously behaving components or it might be interpreted by anexisting autonomous expression or by an artificial autonomous expressioncreated specifically to enliven referential expressions.

There is no archetypal or universal form of referential expressionencompassing all forms of expression. Each expression must adopt a pointof view of what the differentnesses and their interactions are and howthey will be represented and not all points of view can be encompassedby a single point of view.

12 The Invocation Language

This chapter presents a symbol string language of direct associationrelationships that embodies the invocation model.

12.1 The Nature of Symbol String Expression

The essential property of a symbol string is that it exists in aninherently limiting one-dimensional expression space. A symbol in thestring can associate with its direct neighbors but cannot directlyassociate with more remote places in the string. Contrast this to theexpression of an electronic circuit in three-dimensional space in whichany place in the circuit can directly associate with any other place inthe circuit via a wire connecting the two places.

A symbol string expression must be mappable to higher dimensional formsof expression. So there must be a means of expressing higher dimensionalrelationships in the one dimensional string, a means of delimitingplaces within the string and a means of associating these places fromanywhere in the string to anywhere else in the string. This isaccomplished with syntax structure and with name correspondence.

Of the available symbols a small set is reserved for expressing syntaxstructures, and the rest can be used for expressing correspondence namesand the content that flows through the expression. Syntax structure canexpress delimitation of places and their local association in terms ofnesting and contiguity, but it cannot associate one place in theexpression with any other arbitrary place in the expression. This isaccomplished with name correspondence association. Each syntax structurehas a unique name. Remote syntax structures with identical names areassociated by the correspondence of their names.

Another consequence of the one-dimensionality of the symbol string isthat there is not enough dimensionality for a symbol string expressionto autonomously resolve in the context of the string. A symbol stringexpression can be mapped into an expression with sufficientdimensionality or it can be interpreted within an expression ofsufficient dimensionality. However, a symbol string cannot spontaneouslybehave on its own merits. A symbol string expression is a purelyreferential, form of expression.

Since a symbol string is purely referential it can indulge inexpressional efficiencies that are not available to expressions thatautonomously resolve. It can express just the necessary relationships ofa process and defer as universal conventions many of the details ofprocess behavior. The deferred expressivity can be added back in duringmapping to autonomy or during interpretation.

12.2 A Language of Association Relationships.

The invocation language embodies the invocation model. It expressesassociation relationships among places in an expression in contrast to asequence of operations on a state space. It expresses distributedconcurrency in contrast to centralized sequentiality. It expresseslocally autonomous behavior in contrast to centrally controlledbehavior. It expresses distributed data maintenance in contrast tocentralized data maintenance. Expression in the language is uniform andconsistent from primitive expressions such as logic functions or proteininteractions through all levels of hierarchical composition.

There are several familiar notions of expressivity that the languagedoes not include. There is no predefined set of symbols, no predefinedset of primitive operators, no predefined data types or structures andno predefined control operators. There is no concept of sequence or ofany time referent, no concept of explicit control, no concept ofexplicitly addressable memory and no concept of state space.

Expressions in the invocation language can be mapped into any form ofimplementation from a fully distributed and concurrent pipelinestructure to a contemporary sequential processor and onto anyintermediate flavor of distributed processing such as multiple coresequential processors, DSPs and programmable gate arrays. Unclutteredwith conventions and confusions the invocation language captures theelegant simplicity of expressing concurrent and distributed behaviorencompassing all forms of process expression from mathematicalcomputation to biological metabolism.

12.3 The Syntax Structures

There are four syntax structures: the source place, the destinationplace, the invocation and the definition. A source place anywhere in thestring is laterally associated by name correspondence to one or moredestination places. Boundaries within the network are expressed with aninvocation. One or more destination places are associated as an inputboundary, and one or more source places are associated as an outputboundary. The invocation boundaries laterally associate with otherinvocations and hierarchically associate by name correspondence to adefinition that contains the expression between the input and outputboundaries of the invocation.

12.3.1 Lateral Composition: Place to Place Association

Non-neighbor places in the string are associated by name correspondencebetween a source place and one or more destination places. Sourcename isthe correspondence name of the source place and destinationname is thecorrespondence name of the destination place.

Source place: sourcename<content>

Destination place: $destinationname

A source place will associate with all destination places with anidentical correspondence name. The behavior model is that the content ofa source place flows to each destination place of the same name. In FIG.134 a AGXST is the content of a source place named Abel. Source placeAbel< > is associated with one destination place $Abel by namecorrespondence. The AGXST will flow from source Abel< > to destinationplace $Abel. FIG. 134 b shows a source place named Baker with a contentNGRYU with a fan-out association by name correspondence to threedestination places named Baker. The content, NGRYU, will flow to allthree destination places.

A single correspondence name can span only one association. There cannotbe two source places of the same name. In FIG. 135 a illustrates theambiguity of identically named source places.

To extend a path of association, a destination place associates with adifferently named source place by syntax association. FIG. 135 b shows asource place first< > with a content FSZPQ that is associated withdestination $first by name correspondence association. Destination place$first is associated with source place second< > by syntax structureassociation. Source place second< > is associated with destination place$second by name correspondence association. Destination place $second isassociated with source place third< > by syntax structure association.Source place third< > is associated with destination place $third byname correspondence association. The FSZPQ in source place first< >ultimately flows through the associations to destination place $third.

Different syntax structures are associated by name correspondence, anddifferent correspondence names are associated by syntax structure.Extended paths of association are expressed by alternating namecorrespondence association and syntax structure association, weaving atapestry of arbitrarily complex association relationships in aone-dimensional string of symbols.

12.3.2 Hierarchical Composition: The Invocation and Definition

The invocation and definition express the boundaries of both lateral andhierarchical composition.

The Invocation

The invocation associates destination places to form an input boundaryand associates source places to form an output boundary. The behaviormodel is that the boundaries are completeness boundaries and that theinvocation expresses completeness criterion behavior between its inputand output boundaries. When the content at the output boundary iscomplete, the content presented to the input is complete, and the outputis the correct resolution of the content presented to the inputboundary. Invocation boundaries are the boundaries of the expression.They are composition boundaries, coordination boundaries and partitionboundaries.

An invocation is a named syntax structure of two parenthesized lists.Invocationname is the correspondence name of the invocation. Thedestination list is the input boundary for the invocation, in which thecontent to be resolved is received, and the source list is the outputboundary for the invocation, through which the result content isdistributed.

Invocation invocationname(destination list)(source list)

FIG. 136 shows the syntax structure of the invocation and its externalassociation relationships. ProcX is the correspondence name of theinvocation that associates with a definition of the same name.

The Definition

The definition expresses the network of associations between theboundaries of the associated invocation. A definition is a named syntaxstructure delimited by brackets containing a source list delimited byparenthesis, a destination list delimited by parenthesis, a place ofresolution terminated by a colon followed by a place of containeddefinitions. Definitionname is the correspondence name of thedefinition. The source list is the input for the definition throughwhich a formed name is received, and the destination list is the outputfor the definition through which the results are delivered. The place ofresolution is best understood as a bounded pure value expression thatcan contain association expressions.

definition definitionname[(source list)(destination list)

-   -   place of resolution: contained definitions]

A definition associates to an invocation by name correspondence. Theplace of resolution contains the expression between the boundaries thatresolves the presented input to an asserted output. The source listreceives the input contents by correspondence of syntax structure froman invocation destination list and associates them to destination placesin the resolving expression in the place of resolution. The resolvingexpression contains source places that associate to the outputdestination places. The destination list receives the results from thesource places of the resolving expression and returns them bycorrespondence of syntax structure to the invocation source list.

FIG. 137 shows the syntax structure of the definition and its internalassociation relationships. ProcX is the correspondence name of thedefinition and associates with a invocation of the same name.

12.3.3 The Association of Invocation and Definition

An invocation associates by name correspondence to an identically nameddefinition. The lists of the invocation associate with the lists of thedefinition by syntactic structure. The source list of the definitionassociates to the destination list of the invocation by ordercorrespondence. The destination list of the definition associates to thesource list of the invocation by order correspondence. This might seemsomewhat confusing at first, but the rationale is straightforward.

In FIG. 138.a the invocation ABC associates by name correspondence todefinition ABC. Destination places of the invocation destination listassociate by order with the source places of the definition source list.Source places of the invocation source list associate by order with thedestination places of the definition destination list. The destinationlist of the invocation is places to where contents flow to form thecontent to be resolved. The source list of the definition is the placesfrom which the content flows to the resolving expression. Thedestination list of the definition is the places to where the results ofthe resolving expression will flow, and the source list of theinvocation is the places from which results will flow to theirdestinations. FIG. 138 b gives a graphic representation of theinvocation-definition syntactic interface.

The interface relationships can also be understood in terms of daisychaining. FIG. 138 c shows the invocation and definition lists withdestination places merged into their associated source places showingthe relationship of the invocation and definition boundaries in terms ofsyntactic daisy chaining.

Because its interface of association places with the external expressionis purely syntactic, a definition forms an isolated correspondence namedomain for source places and destination places. Internal names can bechosen without concern that there will be ambiguity with the externalexpression.

12.3.4 Abbreviated Forms of the Invocation and Definition

The invocation and definition syntax structures can be abbreviated toexpress simpler association relationships and also to accommodatefamiliar forms of symbol string expression.

Return a Content to Place of Invocation

An un-named source place in the source place list of an invocationassociates by implicit name correspondence to the place of theinvocation and no other place. The invocation itself becomes the singledestination place for the returned result. In Example 12.1 the firstsource place in the source list of the invocation is unnamed. Thedestination place $SUM in the destination list of the definitionassociates to the unnamed source place. The content flowing through $SUMwill associate to the unnamed source place and flow to the place of theinvocation.

invocation FULLADD(0, 1, 0)(< >CARRYOUT< >) . . . $CARRYOUT

definition FULLADD[(X< >Y< >C< >)($SUM $CARRY)

Example 12.1 Un-Named Source Place in an Invocation

Single Return to Place of Invocation

If an invocation receives a single result in its own place, there is noneed of a source list. The corresponding definition can express thesingle return with the absence of a destination list and with thepresence of a single unnamed source place in the place of resolution. Anexpression like Example 12.2 can be further abbreviated to the form ofExample 12.3.

invocation AND($A $B)(< >)

definition AND[(X< >Y< >C< >)($R) R< . . . >: . . . ]

Example 12.2 Expressing a Single Return to Place of Invocation

invocation AND($A $B)

definition AND[(X< >Y< >)< . . . >: . . . ]

Example 12.3 Further Abbreviated Expression of a Single Return to Placeof Invocation

This abbreviation supports the familiar expressional form of functionalnesting. In Example 12.4 each invocation has only a destination list andis part of the destination list of another invocation or is within asource place.

<OR(AND(NOT($X),$Y),AND($X,NOT($Y)))>

Example 12.4 Nested Invocations

The Conditional Invocation Name

If an invocation has an empty destination, i.e., no input, list then theinvocationname itself must express the variable part of the invocation.The conditional invocationname is the mechanism of contenttransformation in the language. The invocation correspondence name isformed from the content of one or more contiguous destination places.Content emerges from flow paths to interact by forming thecorrespondence name of an invocation. All content flowing through theassociation paths eventually emerges to form an invocationcorrespondence name. This is how value transform rules are invoked totransform the flowing content of the expression.

-   -   $place1$place2$place3( )

The Constant Definition

If a definition does not contain a source list and does not contain adefinition list it is a constant definition. With no input associationsthere is no content flow into the definition to resolve, no need forinternal definitions, and no need for the colon. A constant definitioncontains only a place of resolution between the brackets, which containsa constant content and can be abbreviated as shown below:

-   -   definitionname[constant]

Since there is no destination list, the constant content is returned tothe place of invocation.

A constant definition expresses a value transform rule. Example 12.5shows the value transform rule definitions for the AND function. Thecontent values 1 or 0 will propagate through A< > and B< > and atwo-value name will be formed by $A$B( ) that will invoke one of thecontained definitions. The constant of the invoked definition willreturn to the place of the invocation, entering a flow path in theunnamed source place, and will flow through the unnamed source placeback to the invocation of AND. The set of constant definitions—valuetransform rule definitions—expresses the truth table of the ANDfunction. One can think of the content forming the invocationname thattransforms into the content of the definition.

AND[(A< >B< >)<$A$B( )>: 00[0] 01[0] 10[0] 11[1]]

Example 12.5 AND Function with Value Transform Rule Definitions

A constant definition can also contain a fragment of expressionincluding an invocation that will be returned to the place ofinvocation. The formation of an invocationname in a place of resolutionresults in the fragment of expression in the corresponding constantdefinition being returned to the place of invocation in the place ofresolution and consequently being resolved. In Example 12.6 the contentof select< > will be A or B. This content flows to $select and forms theinvocation A( ) or B( ), invoking one of the two contained definitions.The content of the named definition is returned to the place ofinvocation in the place of resolution and resolved directing the inputto one of two possible output association paths.

def  fanout[(select< > in< >)({$out1 $out2})     $select( ) : A[out1<$in >] B[out2< $in >] ]

Example 12.6 Fan-Out Steering

The Pure Value Expression

If there are no list parenthesis in a place of resolution, then thereare no explicit invocations. The contents flowing into a place ofresolution are assumed to be freely associating values of a pure valueexpression that will form names of contained definitions. The containeddefinitions are value transform rules, or they contain associationexpression fragments to be inserted into the place of resolution.

-   -   definitionname[(A< >B< >C< >)( . . . )$A$B$C: . . . ]

The place of resolution of Example 12.26, as seen later in this chapter,contains a pure value expression.

12.4 The Comma

The comma is a general separator. There can be cases of separate placesthat must be syntactically separated but that are not separated by thesyntax defined so far such as two constants in the destination list ofan invocation. Example 12.7 illustrates two constants, NT and EW, in thedestination of an invocation delimited by a comma. Without the firstcomma, NT would get confused with the B of $B. Without the second comma,NT and EW would appear as a single constant.

-   -   ProcX($A $B, NT, EW)( )

Example 12.7 Comma-Delimited Constants

Because the destination places are not syntactically isolated, in aninvocation destination list the meaning can become ambiguous if adestination place is followed by a conditional invocation. In Example12.8 the destination places $C$D form an invocationname. If the commadid not separate $B and $C all four destination places would beconsidered to form the invocationname.

-   -   ProcX($A $B, $C$D( ))( )

Example 12.8 Comma-Delimited Destination Places

Commas can be used freely as a redundant separator for convenientreadability. In Example 12.8 the string “$A, $B” is identical to thestring “$A $B”.

12.5 Completeness Relations

The language does not express the details of coordination. It assumescompleteness criterion behavior between the boundaries of eachinvocation and between source and destination places. The language must,however, indicate what constitutes completeness for each invocationboundary.

12.5.1 Full Completeness

The simplest completeness relation is that content be present at allplaces in each list. An invocation begins when there is content in allof its destination places. An invocation is completed when there iscontent in all of its source places. A list with no additional syntaximplies full completeness.

12.5.2 Mutually Exclusive Completeness Relations

There are many circumstances where, for each instantiation, exactly oneof a group of places will have content. This mutually exclusive behaviorcan occur in pure association expression with multi-path representationwhere a group of places mutually exclusively assert a value. This isexpressed by enclosing the mutually exclusive group of places in braces.In the definition given in Example 12.9 content in exactly one of A0< >or A1< > and one of B0< > or B1< > is completeness for the source listand content in one of $0 or $1 is completeness for the destination list.

-   -   OR[({A0< >A1< >} {B0< >B1< >})({$0$1}) . . . :]

Example 12.9 Mutually Exclusive Completeness

12.5.3 Conditional Completeness

Conditional completeness is expressed when the content of one place in alist, which must always be complete, determines the completenessrelations of other places in the list delimited by braces.

Conditional Input

Conditional input is shown in Example 12.10. The invocation of fan-inwill pass $in1, $in2, $in3 or $in4 depending on the content of $select,which can be A, B, C or D. The content of select< > will form aninvocation name in the place of resolution. The invoked definition willreturn an expression fragment that directs the content of one of theinput places to the output destination place. Only one of $in1, $in2,$in3 or $in4 needs content for completeness. The braces explicitlyexpress this completeness relation. Input completeness is a $selectcontent and content of the selected source place. The mutually exclusivecompleteness relationships are also reflected in the definition lists.

inv  fanin($select {$input1 $input2 $input3 $input4})(output< >) def fanin[(select< > {in1< > in2< > in3< >in4< >})($out)     $select( ) :  A[out< $in1 >] B[out< $in2 >] C[out< $in3 >] D[out< $in4 >] ]

Example 12.10 Conditional Input Expression

The unselected places may or may not have content. If a place hascontent and is not selected, its content will be retained until apresentation occurs that does select it.

Conditional Output

Conditional output can also be expressed as shown in Example 12.11. Theinvocation of fan-out will pass $input to output1< >, output2< >,output3< > or output4< > depending on the content of select< >. Outputcompleteness is exactly one of output1< >, output2< >, output3< > oroutput4< >. The braces explicitly express this completeness criterion.The mutually exclusive completeness relationships are also reflected inthe definition lists.

inv  fanout($select $input)({output1< > output2< > output3< >    output4< >}) def  fanout[(select< > in< >)({$out1 $out2 $out3 $out4})    $select( ) : A[out1< $in >] B[out2< $in >] C[out3< $in >] D[out4<$in >] ]

Example 12.11 Controlled Fan-Out Expression

Serial Bus: Fan-In/Fan-Out Expression

Example 12.12 is a serial bus expressed by the invocations associatingthe output of a fan-in with the input of a fan-out.

inv fanin($selin {$in1 $in2})(serialmid< >)

inv fanout($selout $serialmid)({out1< >out2< >out3< >out4< >})

Example 12.12 Serial Bus

Parallel Bus: Fan-Out/Fan-In Expression

Example 12.13 is a parallel bus expressed by associating the output ofmultiple fan-outs with the input of multiple fan-ins. The outAs andoutBs of the fan-out invocations associate to the inputs of the fan-ininvocations.

inv fanout($seloutA $srcA)({outA1< > outA2< > outA3< > outA4< >outA5< >}) inv fanout($seloutB $srcB)({outB1< > outB2< > outB3< >outB4< > outB5< >}) inv fanin($selin1 {$outA1 $outB1})(dest1< >) invfanin($selin2 {$outA2 $outB2})(dest2< >) inv fanin($selin3 {$outA3$outB3})(dest3< >) inv fanin($selin4 {$outA4 $outB4})(dest4< >) invfanin($selin5 {$outA5 $outB5})(dest5< >)

Example 12.13 Parallel Bus

12.5.4 Arbitration Completeness

Arbitration manages the content flow of two or more places ofuncoordinated flow into a single coordinated flow. If all the arbitratedplaces have content simultaneously, the places will compete for theprivilege of flowing through the arbiter. It cannot be predeterminedwhich content will flow. Contents that lose the competition will remainand wait their turn or participate in the next competition. If only oneplace has content, the content will flow through the arbiter withoutcompetition.

The arbitrated places are encompassed with double braces in theinvocation destination list. The double-braced list of destinationplaces associates to a single source place in the definition sourcelist.

inv Arbiter({{$place1$place2}})(next< >) . . . $next

def Arbiter[(placeB< >)($pass) pass<$placeB>:]

Example 12.14 Arbitrated Places

Example 12.14 is an expression that arbitrates the content flow of$place1 and $place2. The arbitrated content flows into placeB< >,through the expression in the place of resolution and out through $passback to next< >. The uncoordinated flow into Place1 and place2 becomes acoordinated flow out of next< >.

12.5.5 Complex Completeness Relationships

There can arise circumstances of more complex completenessrelationships. An ALU is one of these. The ALU is a locality of multiplepossibilities associated by a single command content. While this is anartifact of sequentiality, the language should encompass it. Eachfunction in the ALU can take different configurations of input andassert different configurations of output. Not all inputs of the ALU arealways used, and not all outputs are always asserted. What needs to beexpressed in the context of the definition is the completenessrelationships for each possible configuration of the ALU. The question,to be answered are, What are the completeness relations for each listand how does the completeness relations of the destination list relateto the completeness relations of the source list? This is the criticalinformation to configure a coordination protocol between the source list(the output of the invocation) and the destination list (the input ofthe invocation). With these relationships expressed, any form ofcoordination from cycles to clocks can be automatically added to theexpression.

Example 12.15 shows the definition for an ALU that receives a commandwhose content is always complete and one to three other inputs. Thereare seven commands: shift left(SL), shift right(SR), NOT, AND, OR, XORand ADD. Each command can involve a different input and outputcompleteness relation. The shifts and NOT take one input and assert oneoutput, the logic functions take in two inputs and assert one output,and the ADD takes in three inputs and asserts two outputs.

ALU(ADD, $A $B $carryin)(output< >carryout< >) ALU[(command< > {SL(A< >)SR(A< >) NOT(A< >) AND(A< > B< >)     OR(A< > B< >) XOR(A< > B< >)ADD(A< > B< >     carryin< >})     ({SL($result) SR($result)NOT($result) OR($result)     AND($result) XOR($result) ADD($result$carryout)}) ...... : ... ] ]

Example 12.15 Definition of ALU with Complex Completeness Relations

Each completeness relation is expressed as a sublist of places enclosedin parenthesis. All of the places of a sublist must have content forcompleteness. The seven sublists are enclosed in braces indicating theonly one of the sublists will have content. Each sublist is then labeledwith the enabling command content.

Completeness for the source list is content in the command place andcomplete content in one of the sublists. Completeness for thedestination list is complete content in one of the sublists. Thedestination list is structured identically to the source list with acorresponding order of sublists.

12.5.6 The Occasional Output

An expression might resolve a multitude of presentations beforeasserting an output. A code detector, for instance, might onlyoccasionally assert “detect.” Consider that an expression always assertsa “yes” or a “no” and that only the “yes” is to be passed on. A responsefilter expression, shown in Example 12.16, can receive an answercontaining “yes” or “no” and only pass on the “yes” content. When thecontent is “no,” an empty content is returned to the place ofresolution, to $NO and to NO< >, which expresses completeness for theinvocation but does not associate with any destination place in theexpression. NO< > is a dead-end association. When a “yes” is received, a“yes” content is returned, passed on through $YES to OK< > in theinvocation and continues on to $OK.

inv  report($answer)(OK< > NO< >) .... $OK def  report[(answer< >)({$YES$NO})     $answer( ) :       yes[YES<yes>]       no[NO< > ] ]

Example 12.16 Example with Occasional Source Place

12.6 Bundled Content

Bracket pairs nested within a source list of a definition indicateunbundling of content from a single destination place in the invocationdestination list. Each bracket pair associates with a single destinationplace of an invocation. Bracket pairs nested within a destination listof a definition indicate bundling of content into a single source placein the invocation source list. Each bracket pair associates with asingle source place in the invocation source list. Bundling is aconvenient convention when many association relationships follow anidentical flow path as with a multi-value paths of a pure associationexpression or digits of place-value numbers.

OR($A $B)(Y< >) :   OR[( [{A0< > A1< >}] [{B0< > B1< >}] )( [{$0 $1}] )    1< 3of6($A1 $A1 $A0 $B0 $B1 $B1) >     0< 2of2($A0 $B0) > : ]

Example 12.17 Bundling Mutually Exclusive Path into a Single Path

Example 12.17 shows an example of bundling and mutual exclusion. Thedefinition of the OR is in terms of dual-rail coding. The two rails arebundled in places A and B of the invocation. The two bracket pairs inthe source list of the definition associate with the $A and $B of theinvocation. A0< >A1< > are unbundled from $A. B0< >B1< > are unbundledfrom $B. A0< > and A1< > enclosed in braces are mutually exclusive asare B0< > and B1< >. $0 and $1 in the destination list of the definitionare bundled and associate with Y< > in the source list of theinvocation.

The multi-rail representations are bundled and conveniently expressed asa single place at the next higher composition level. Later in thischapter, Example 12.27, a pure association expression of a full-adder,shows this usage. At the Boolean function level the expression is interms of paths with bundled content. In the definition of each Booleanfunction the paths are unbundled and expressed as explicitly dual-railpaths.

Bundling can be used for any common association path. Example 12.18shows the bundling and unbundling of a four-digit number. The places inthe invocation are bundled, and the places in the definition areunbundled. The source places A0 through A3 are unbundled from $A. Thesum destination places SUM0 through SUM3 are bundled into SUM< >. TheAxs and Bxs might be dual-rail representation and might be furtherunbundled into their dual-rail components as in Example 12.17

4BITADD($A $B $CARRYIN)(SUM< > CARRYOUT< >) 4BITADD[([A0< > A1< > A2< >A3< >] [B0< > B1< > B2< > B3< >] CI< >)   ([$SUM0 $SUM1 $SUM2 $SUM3]$CO)... : ...]

Example 12.18 Bundling Digits into Numbers

The bundling brackets follow the bundled content delimiting the contentinto nested levels of bundling. Each level of bundling adds outermostbrackets. Each level of unbundling strips the outermost brackets fromthe bundled content.

12.7 Expression Structure

FIG. 139 shows the component structures of an example expression. Thereare some outlying source places and destination places. They associatewith an invocation of ProcX. There is a definition of ProcX with asource list and a destination list. The resolution place of thedefinition contains an invocation of ProcA within a source place namedresult2. The place of contained definitions contains the definition ofProcA that itself contains a set of value transform rule definitions.

The arrows show the association relationships and the flow of content.The content 101 is formed in the destination list of the invocation ofProcX flowing from source places place1< >, place2< > and place3< > todestination places $place1, $place2, and $place3. The content flows intothe definition of ProcX through source places A< >, B< > and C< > andinto the destination places $A, $B and $C in the invocation of ProcA inthe place of resolution. The contents then flow into the source placesX< >, Y< >, and Z< > of the ProcX definition, and then into thedestination places $X, $Y and $Z in the place of resolution of ProcAforming the invocation 101( ), which invokes the definition 101 [1],which returns the value 1, which then flows out of the definition ofProcA to the place of the ProcA invocation becoming the content of thesource place result2< >, then to the destination place $result2, to thesource place placeB< > in the invocation of ProcX, and on to thedestination place $placeB.

The gray arrows indicate name correspondence associations, and the blackarrows indicate syntax structure associations. The black ring isneighbor association. The alternating shade along association paths showthe alternation between name correspondence association and syntaxstructure association, each extending the reach of the other, weaving anetwork of association pathways through the invocations and definitions.

12.7.1 Name Correspondence Search

The language assumes a search behavior to match correspondence names.Some name correspondence association relationships are static, and thesearch for corresponding names in the string can be carried out by alanguage processor and mapped to a direct association relationship suchas a wire in the autonomous expression. For some associationrelationships the correspondence name is not expressed until the time ofresolution when a name emerges from a content path. So the search mustbe integral to the resolution behavior. These searches can be mapped toefficient search expressions in the autonomous expression such as acombinational logic expression, a MUX, the addressing behavior of aconventional memory or a shaking bag.

12.7.2 Scope of Correspondence Name Reference

A definition forms a syntactically isolated correspondence name domainfor source places and destination places. To maintain the integrity ofassociation relationships and content flow all content flow, into andout of a definition must flow through the syntactic interface with aninvocation. Place correspondence names do not cross definitionboundaries.

However, the correspondence of invocationnames to definition names canhave a larger scope of reference. It is convenient to assumehierarchical scope of reference rules for invocationnames. The searchfor the corresponding definitionname can progress up the hierarchy ofnested definitions until a match is found. No matter where in thehierarchy a definition is found, it can be considered to be instantiatedat the place of the invocation. This allows the expression andinvocation of common definitions in the language.

12.8 A Progression of Examples

A progression of example expressions of a single process is presented toillustrate the range of expressivity of the invocation language. Binarydigit addition will serve as the example process with the first examplebeing a binary full adder composed of two half-adders shown as agraphical expression in FIG. 140. The expression is a structure ofassociation relationships among Boolean functions. The input and outputof the full-adder is a completeness boundary, and the input and outputof each function is a completeness boundary.

12.8.1 Imperative Form

The graphic expression of FIG. 140 is labeled with correspondence namesfor the inputs of the expression, which are destination places of theinvocation, and the output of each function which are the source placesin the expression. Example 12.19 expresses the full-adder as animperative expression. It is a collection of statements each aninvocation of a function with its input and output. The associations arecompletely in terms of name correspondence relationships. There is aone-to-one correspondence between the graphic expression and the stringexpression.

inv FULLADD(0, 1, 0)(< > CARRYOUT< >) ... $CARRYOUT defFULLADD[(X< >Y< >C< >)( $SUM $CARRY) NOT($X)(OP1< >) AND($OP1 $Y)(OP4< >) NOT($Y)(OP2< >) AND($X $OP2)(OP3< >) OR($OP4 $OP3)(FIRSTSUM< >)NOT($FIRSTSUM)(OP6< >) AND($C $OP6)(OP7< >) NOT($C)(OP5< >) AND($OP5$FIRSTSUM)(OP8< >) OR($OP7 $OP8)(SUM< >) AND($X $Y)(OP10< >) AND($C$FIRSTSUM)(OP9< >) OR($OP10 $OP9)(CARRY< >) :  OR[(A< > B< >)($res)res<$A$B( )> :00[0] 01[1] 10[1] 11[1] ] AND[(A< > B< >)($res) res<$A$B()> :00[0] 01[0] 10[0] 11[1] ] NOT[(A< >)($res) res<$A( )> :1[0] 0[1] ] ]

Example 12.19 Imperative Form of Expression

Note that the first source place of the source list of the invocation ofFULLADD is unnamed and the $SUM result of the definition is associatedto the place of the invocation. The CARRY result associates by namecorrespondence to $CARRY in the definition destination list, by syntaxcorrespondence to CARRYOUT< > in the invocation source list and then byname correspondence to $CARRYOUT.

There are three contained definitions. The AND and OR definitions use adifferent set of value transform rule definitions with the same set ofnames. Each set of value transform rules is isolated within adefinition, so there is no ambiguity of name correspondence.

FIG. 141 shows the associations from the source list of the definitionto destination places within the expression at the place of resolution.The expression is identical to Example 12.19 except that someinvocations have been doubled up on a single line.

FIG. 142 shows the associations of resolution flow within the resolutionexpression and the flow of the results to $SUM and $CARRY.

12.8.2 Functional Form

Example 12.20 is the full-adder expression in terms of a nestingstructure of abbreviated invocations that each receive a single returnin place. The FIRSTSUM< > source place represents the output of thefirst half-adder and is fanned out to three destination places. SUM< >and CARRY< > source places are the results of the expression andassociate with the destination places in the destination list of thedefinition.

inv FULLADD(0, 1, 0)(< > CARRYOUT< >) ... $CARRYOUT defFULLADD[(X< >Y< >C< >)( $SUM $CARRY)FIRSTSUM<OR(AND(NOT($X),$Y),AND($X,NOT($Y)))>CARRY<OR(AND($X,$Y),AND($C,$FIRSTSUM)>SUM<OR(AND(NOT($C),$FIRSTSUM),AND($C,NOT($FIRSTSUM)))> :   OR[(A< >B< >)<$A$B( )> : 0[0] 1[1] 00[0] 01[1] 10[1]    11[1] ]AND[(A< >B< >)<$A$B( )> : 0[0] 1[0] 00[0] 01[0]    10[0] 11[1] ]NOT[(A< >)<$A( )> :1[0] 0[1] ]

Example 12.20 Functional Form

Expressing association relationships with syntactic nesting may beuseful as a human convenience, but it is neither a necessary nor asufficient form of expression in a symbol string. It is not sufficientin that it cannot directly express circular or feedback relationshipsand it cannot directly express fan-out relationships. The fan-outrelationship in Example 12.20 is expressed with a source placeFIRSTSUM< >. It is not necessary in that all relationships that can beexpressed in terms of nesting can be expressed in terms of namecorrespondence.

12.8.3 Net List Form

Example 12.21 shows a netlist form of expression. Each invocation isabbreviated as a single return invocation and is nested in a sourceplace. Each source place is associated with a destination in thedestination list of an invocation. The expression is a collection ofnamed statements and direct connections among them.

invocation FULLADD(0, 1, 0)(< > CARRYOUT< >) ... $CARRYOUT definitionFULLADD[(X< >Y< >C< >)( $SUM $CARRY)     OP1< NOT($X) >     OP4 <AND($OP1 $Y) >     OP2< NOT($Y) >     OP3< AND($X $OP2) >     FIRSTSUM<OR($OP4 $OP3) >     OP6< NOT($FIRSTSUM) >     OP7< AND($C $OP6) >    OP5< NOT($C) >     OP8< AND($OP5 $FIRSTSUM) >     SUM< OR($OP7$OP8) >     OP10< AND($X $Y) >     OP9< AND($C $FIRSTSUM) >     OR($OP10$OP9)(CARRY< >)     :       OR[(A< > B< >) <$A$B( )> :00[0] 01[1] 10[1]11[1] ]       AND[(A< > B< >) <$A$B( )> :00[0] 01[0] 10[0] 11[1] ]      NOT[(A< >) <$A( )> :1[0] 0[1] ] ]

Example 12.21 Net List Form

12.8.4 Longer Value Transform Rule Names

Example 12.22 shows a FULLADD expression that directly resolves thethree value name in terms of value transform rule definitions with threevalue names. Now there are only two invocations in the place ofresolution invoking the definitions COUT and ADD as shown in FIG. 143.With longer value transform rule names there is more expression in termsof value differentiation and less in terms of associationdifferentiation.

inv FULLADD(0, 1, 0)(< > CARRYOUT< >) ... $CARRYOUT defFULLADD[(A< >B< >C< >)( $SUM $CARRY) CARRY<COUT($A $B $C)> SUM<ADD($A $B$C)> COUT[(X< > Y< > Z< >)<$X$Y$Z( ) > : 000[0] 001[0] 010[0]    011[1]100[0] 101[1] 110[1] 111[1]] ADD[(X< > Y< > Z< >)<$X$Y$Z( )> :  000[0]001[1] 010[1]    011[0] 100[1] 101[0] 110[0] 111[1]] ]

Example 12.22 Longer Value Transform Rule Names

12.8.5 Limited Set of Name Forming Symbols

Name forming symbols disjoint from the syntax symbols are used to formcorrespondence names as well as to express content. Name correspondencerelies only on name equality; it is insensitive to the symbol set used.Unique and equal names can be expressed using any set of convenientlyavailable symbols. Even a single symbol can be used, in which case nameswill correspond solely by their length. The only requirement ofcorrespondence names is that they correspond.

Correspondence names and content are syntactically isolated as contentflows through the association paths until the content symbols emerge andbriefly form correspondence names. All content symbols ultimatelyparticipate in forming correspondence names, so the set of contentsymbols must be included in the set of correspondence name symbols. Theconstant definitions, the value transform rules, determine the set ofcontent symbols. Every content eventually contributes to the formationof the name of a constant definition.

In the examples above the correspondence names were formed with a fullalphabet and the content names were formed with the symbols 0 and 1.Example 12.23 and FIG. 144 show the full adder expressed using just twoname-forming symbols: 0 and 1. The structure of the expression isidentical to Example 12.22. Only the correspondence names have beenchanged.

inv 1011001101(0,1, 0)(< > 101010101< >) $101010101 def1011001101[(1100< >1101< >1110< >)($11010 $111111111) 111111111<11110000($1100 $1101 $1110)(< >)> 11010<11001100($1100 $1101$1110)(< >)> 11110000[(11100< >11101< > 11110< >)<$11100 $11101   $11110( )>: 000[0] 001[0] 010[0] 011[1] 100[0] 101[1]    110[1]111[1]] 11001100[(11100< >11101< > 11110< >)<$11100 $11101    $11110()>: 000[0] 001[1] 010[1] 011[0] 100[1] 101[0]    110[0] 111[1]]] ]

Example 12.23 Full-Adder with Binary Correspondence Names

12.8.6 More Available Content Values

With more content values available there can be less associationstructure of the expression. The values S, T, U, V, W and X map to thefollowing meanings:

-   -   S means A=0    -   T means A=1    -   U means B=0    -   V means B=1    -   W means CI=0    -   X means CI=1    -   S means SUM=0    -   T means SUM=1    -   W means CO=0    -   X means CO=1

In the expression of Example 12.24 the place of resolution contains noparentheses, so it is a pure value expression in which the valuesspontaneously associate to form names of value transform rules. Theexpression is entirely in terms of definitions. There is no associationstructure in the place of resolution. However, the values S, T, W and Xare used for both the input and for the output. To avoid reforming inputnames in the place of resolution, the result values must be isolatedwithin a source place when they are delivered to the place ofresolution. While the place of resolution of Example 12.24 is a purevalue expression the expression, as a whole is not quite a pure valueexpression.

inv FULLADD($A,$B,$C)(< > CARRYOUT< >) def FULLADD[(A< > B< >CI< >)($SUM $CO) $A$B$CI  : SUW[SUM<S> CO<W>] SUX[SUM<T> CO<W>]SVW[SUM<T> CO<W>] SVX[SUM<S> CO<X>] TUW[SUM<T> CO<W>] TUX[SUM<S> CO<X>]TVW[SUM<S> CO<X>] TVX[SUM<T> CO<X>] ]

Example 12.24 Pure Value Place of Resolution

12.8.7 Pure Value Expression

The values K, L, M and N are added as output values that are unique fromthe input values.

-   -   S means A=0    -   T means A=1    -   U means B=0    -   V means B=1    -   W means CI=0    -   X means CI=1    -   K means SUM=0    -   L means SUM=1    -   M means CO=0    -   N means CO=1

The output values can now be delivered to the place of resolution asfree values and can effect their own output, in this case by invoking adefinition that contains a source place with themselves as content thatassociates to $SUM and $CARRY. The expression of Example 12.25, as awhole, is a pure value expression.

inv FULLADD($A,$B,$C)(< > CARRYOUT< >) def FULLADD[(A< > B< >CI< >)($SUM $CO) $A$B$CI  : K[SUM< K >] L[SUM< L >] M[CO< M >] N[CO<N >] SUW[K,M] SUX[L,M] SVW[L,M] SVX[K,N] TUW[L,M] TUX[K,N] TVW[K,N]TVX[L,N] ]

Example 12.25 Pure Value Expression

12.8.8 Another Pure Value Expression

The binary full-adder of FIG. 140 can be mapped directly into a purevalue expression that is expressed solely in terms of unique symbols andvalue transform rules. The Boolean logic expression uses two uniquesymbols, 0 and 1, and unique places within the expression to representunique differentnesses within the expression. The 0 or 1 on this path isdifferent from the 0 or 1 on that path. The graphical circuit in FIG.145. shows the mapping of each wire (association path) to two uniquesymbols. One representing a 0 symbol on the wire and one representing a1 symbol on the wire.

C means X=0

D means X=1

E means Y=0

F means Y=1, and so on, for each wire in the circuit.

The value transform rules for resolving each formed name are derivedfrom the symbols associated with each function. The derivation of thevalue transform rules for the function surrounded by O, P, Q, R, W and Xis shown in FIG. 146. The set of derived value transform rules thenbecomes the set of contained definitions. Example 12.26 is the purevalue expression. The input content is dumped into the place ofresolution with no invocation syntax and begins forming names.

inv FULLADD($A,$B,$C)(< > CARRYOUT< >) def FULLADD[(X< >Y< >CI< >)( $SUM$CARRY)    $X $Y $CI: “fan-out input symbols” A[g,k,o] B[h,l,p] C[G,K,O]D[H,L,P] E[I,M,Q] F[J,N,R] “define combinational resolution stages”GI[S] GJ[T] HI[S] HJ[S] KM[U] KN[U] LM[V] LN[U] OQ[W] OR[W] PQ[W] PR[X]SU[a,c,e] SV[b,d,f] TU[b,d,f] TV[b,d,f] “fan out input to secondhalf-adder” ga[i] gb[j] ha[i] hb[i] kc[m] kd[m] lc[n] ld[m] oe[q] of[q]pe[q] pf[r] im[s ] in[ t ] jm[ t ] jn[ t ] “sum” qW[u ] qX[ v ] rW[v ]rX[ v ] “carry” s[SUM< s >] t[SUM< t >] u[CARRY< u >] v[CARRY< v >]“output” ]

Example 12.26 Pure Value Expression of Boolean Full-Adder

FIG. 147 shows the resolution for input values B, C and F as aprogression of populations of symbols in a shaking bag, which representsthe place of resolution. In each population of values only certainassociations form a name of a value transform rule. In each populationthe values that form the name of a value transform rule are showncircled. The value transform rules involved in each population are shownabove the arrows and assert the values that will be in the succeedingpopulation. The final values s and v invoke definitions with sourceplaces that associate to places in the destination list of thedefinition. In a shaking bag s and v might cause the bag to open.

12.8.9 Pure Association Expression

To maintain consistency with the other examples, a NULL Convention Logicpure association expression, shown in FIG. 148, is mapped directly fromthe full-adder of FIG. 140 by substituting the Boolean functions with2NCL expressions.

Example 12.27 is a pure association expression. The expression isidentical to Example 12.19 except for the definitions of OR, AND andNOT, which are expressed in terms of a set of invocations only one ofwhich will achieve completeness of its destination list.

invocation FULLADD($A $B $C)(< > CARRYOUT< >) ... $CARRYOUT definitionFULLADD[(X< >Y< >C< >)( $SUM $CARRY)     NOT($X)(OP1< >) AND($OP1$Y)(OP4 < >)     NOT($Y)(OP2< >) AND($X $OP2)(OP3< >)     OR($OP4$OP3)(FIRSTSUM< >)     NOT($FIRSTSUM)(OP6< >) AND($C $OP6)(OP7< >)    NOT($C)(OP5< >) AND($OP5 $FIRSTSUM)(OP8< >)     OR($OP7$OP8)(SUM< >)     AND($X $Y)(OP10< >)  AND($C $FIRSTSUM)(OP9< >)    OR($OP10 $OP9)(CARRY< >)     :   OR[([{A0< > A1< >}][{B0< >B1< >}])([{$O0 $O1}])           out1($A1 $B1)           out1($A1 $B0)          out1($A0 $B1)           out0 $A0 $B0) : out1[O1<D>]out0[O0<D>]]     AND[([{A0< > A1< >}][{B0< > B1< >}])([{$O0 $O1}])          out1($A1 $B1)           out0($A1 $B0)           out0($A0 $B1)          out0 $A0 $B0) : out1[O1<D>] out0[O0<D>]]    NOT[([{A0< >A1< >}])([{$O0 $O1}])           O0<$A1>          O1<$A0>  : ] ]

Example 12.27 Pure Association String Expression of Full-Adder

A language expression properly ends with either primitive valuetransform rules or primitive association relationships. Example 12.27 isa pure association expression that ends with primitive associationrelationships.

The individual paths of the dual-path inputs associate in thedestination list of each invocation. For each presentation thedestination list of only one of the invocations will have completecontent enabling the invocation. The enabled invocation will invoke adefinition that associates a data value with one of the mutuallyexclusive output places. The set of invocations expresses the truthtable for the OR operator in terms of association differentiation. Thevalue differentiation version of OR is expressed in Example 12.19,Example 12.20 and Example 12.21.

How primitive relationships may be mapped to autonomy is not necessarilya concern of the language, but the mapping should, nevertheless beexpressible in the language. This example illustrates disjointedmapping. The language expression takes the expression to a certainlevel, and then a mapping occurs between the language primitiverelationships and a different form of expression that is equivalent.

In this case the language expresses the primitive associationrelationships as a set of invocations for each Boolean function. The setof invocations in the OR definition map directly to the pure associationexpression of FIG. 149 a which is a minterm form NULL Convention Logic(NCL) expression that can be transformed into the equivalent expressionsin FIG. 149 b or into the expression in FIG. 149 c. The NCL expressionform of FIG. 149 c was directly substituted for the Boolean functions ofthe full-adder of FIG. 140 to arrive at the expression of FIG. 148.

The NCL operators can also be expressed in the language as pure valueexpressions. Example 12.28 shows the 2 of 2 operator and the 3 of 6operator expressed as pure value expressions within the language.

2of2[(A< > B< >) $A$B : DD[D]] 3of6[(A< > B< > C< > D< > E< > F< >)    $A$B$C$D$E$F :     DDD[D]]

Example 12.28 NCL Expressions as Pure Value Language Expressions

12.8.10 Another Pure Association Full-Adder

The full-adder of FIG. 150 is a pure association NCL expression deriveddirectly from the mapping of differentnesses for the binary full-adder,rather than being mapped from some other form of expression.

Example 12.29 is the language expression in terms of NCL operatorscorresponding to FIG. 150. The dual-rail paths are unbundled and bundledin the definition of FULLADD and associated to the NCL operators. TheNCL operators are expressed as pure value expressions.

invocation FULLADD($A $B $C)(< > CARRYOUT< >... $CARRYOUT definitionFULLADD[(({A0< > A1< >})({B0< > B1< >})({C0< > C1< >}))   ( ({$SUM0$SUM1}) ({$CARRY0 $CARRY1}))   CARRY0< 2of3($A0 $B0 $C0) >   CARRY1<2of3($A1 $B1 $C1) >   SUM0< 3of5($CARRY1 $CARRY1 $A0 $B0 $C0) >   SUM1<3of5($CARRY0 $CARRY0 $A1 $B1 $C1) > : 2of3[(A< > B< > C< >) $A$B$C :DD[D]] 3of5[(A< > B< > C< > D< > E< >)   $A$B$C$D$E : DDD[D]] ]

Example 12.29 Language Expression of NCL Full-Adder

12.8.11 Greater Composition: Four-Bit Adder

Greater expressions are composed by associating places of destinationlists and source lists among invocations. A network of invocations canbe encapsulated in a definition resulting in hierarchical levels ofdefinitions of networks of invocations.

12.8.12 Associated Invocations

Invocations of FULLADD can be associated to form the expression of afour-bit adder. The four-bit parallel adder expression of FIG. 151 isthe language expression for the graphic expression of FIG. 82.Boundaries expressed by the invocations that correspond to theboundaries of the graphic expression are highlighted. The invocation of4BITADD receives two four-bit numbers and a carry-in value and returns afour-bit sum and a carryout value. In the definition of 4BITADD thedigits of each number are fanned out to four invocations of FULLADD. Theinvocations are linked by CARRYOUTx associations.

12.8.13 Nested Invocations

Since there is only one association relationship (CARRYOUTx) between theinvocations, the four-bit adder can also be composed as nestedinvocations as in Example 12.30.

  4BITADD[(A0< > B0< > A1< > B1< > A2< > B2< > A3< >   B3< >C0< >)    ($S0 $S1 $S2 $S3 $CARRYOUT3)   CARRYOUT3< FULLADD($A3 $B3,FULLADD($A2 $B2,   FULLADD($A1 $B1, FULLADD($A0 $B0 $C0)(S0< >< >))(S1< > < >))(S2< > < >))(S3< > < >) >]

Example 12.30 Four-Bit Adder as Nested Invocations

12.8.14 Nested Definitions

The four-bit adder can also be composed in terms of nested definitionsforming a recursive structure, as shown in Example 12.31. 4BITADD addsthe fourth bits and passes the remaining bits to 3BITADD. 3BITADD addsthe third bits and passes the rest off to 2BITADD. Finally, 1BITADDreturns a carry, the carries propagate back up the hierarchy, and thefull sum is returned by 4BITADD. 1BITADD is a contained definition of2BITADD which is a contained definition of 3BITADD, which is a containeddefinition of 4BITADD.

4BITADD[(A0< > B0< > A1< > B1< > A2< > B2< > A3< > B3< >CIN< >)   ($S0$S1 $S2 $S3 $COUT)   FULLADD($A3 $B3 $C2)(S3< > COUT< >)   3BITADD($A2$B2 $A1 $B1 $A0 $B0 $CIN)(S0< >   S1< >S2< > C2< >) : 3BITADD[(A0< >B0< > A1< > B1< > A2< > B2< > CIN< >)($S0 $S1 $S2 $COUT)   FULLADD($A2$B2 $C1)(S2< > COUT< >)   2BITADD($A1 $B1 $A0 $B0 $CIN)(S0< > S1< >C1< >) : 2BITADD[(A0< > B0< > A1< > B1< > CIN< >)($S0 $S1 $COUT)  FULLADD($A1 $B1 $C0)(S1< > COUT< >)   1BITADD($A0 $B0 $CIN)(S0< >C0< >) : 1BITADD[(A0< > B0< > CIN< >)($S0 $COUT)   FULLADD($A0 $B0$CIN)(S0< > COUT< >) ]]]]

Example 12.31 Four-Bit Adder in Terms of Nested Definitions

12.8.15 Structureless Expression

The four-bit add can also be composed without any hierarchical syntacticstructure. In Example 12.32 the four-bit adder is expressed entirely interms of association relationships among primitive operators. Thestructure of the expression is expressed entirely in terms of uniquecorrespondence names.

def 4BITADD[(X0< > Y0< > X1< >Y1< > X2< > Y2< > X3< > Y3< >CIN< >)($SUM0 $SUM1 $SUM2 $SUM3 $CARRY3) NOT($X0)(OP01< >) AND($OP01 $Y0)(OP04< >) NOT($Y0)(OP02< >) AND($X0 $OP02)(OP03< >) OR($OP04$OP03)(FIRSTSUM0< >) NOT($FIRSTSUM0)(OP06< >) AND($CIN $OP06)(OP07< >)NOT($CIN)(OP05< >) AND($OP05 $FIRSTSUM0)(OP08< >) OR($OP07$OP08)(SUM0< >) AND($X0 $Y0)(OP010< >) AND($CIN $FIRSTSUM0)(OP09< >)OR($OP010 $OP09)(CARRY0< >) NOT($X1)(OP11< >) AND($OP11 $Y1)(OP14 < >)NOT($Y1)(OP12< >) AND($X1 $OP12)(OP13< >) OR($OP14 $OP13)(FIRSTSUM1< >)NOT($FIRSTSUM1)(OP16< >) AND($CARRY0 $OP16)(OP17< >)NOT($CARRY0)(OP15< >) AND($OP15 $FIRSTSUM1)(OP18< >) OR($OP17$OP18)(SUM1< >) AND($X1 $Y1)(OP110< >) AND($CARRY0 $FIRSTSUM1)(OP19< >)OR($OP110 $OP19)(CARRY1< >) NOT($X2)(OP21< >) AND($OP21 $Y2)(OP24 < >)NOT($Y2)(OP22< >) AND($X2 $OP22)(OP23< >) OR($OP24 $OP23)(FIRSTSUM2< >)NOT($FIRSTSUM2)(OP26< >) AND($CARRY1 $OP26)(OP27< >)NOT($CARRY1)(OP25< >) AND($OP25 $FIRSTSUM2)(OP28< >) OR($OP27$OP28)(SUM2< >) AND($X2 $Y2)(OP210< >) AND($CARRY1 $FIRSTSUM2)(OP29< >)OR($OP210 $OP29)(CARRY2< >) NOT($X3)(OP31< >) AND($OP31 $Y3)(OP34 < >)NOT($Y3)(OP32< >) AND($X3 $OP32)(OP33< >) OR($OP34 $OP33)(FIRSTSUM3< >)NOT($FIRSTSUM3)(OP36< >) AND($CARRY2 $OP36)(OP37< >)NOT($CARRY2)(OP35< >) AND($OP35 $FIRSTSUM3)(OP38< >) OR($OP37$OP38)(SUM3< >) AND($X3 $Y3)(OP310< >) AND($CARRY2 $FIRSTSUM3)(OP39< >)OR($OP310 $OP39)(CARRY3< >) :  OR[(A< > B< >)($res) res<$A$B()> :00[0]01[1] 10[1] 11[1] ] AND[(A< > B< >)($res) res<$A$B()> :00[0] 01[0] 10[0]11[1] ] NOT[(A< >)($res) res<$A()> :1[0] 0[1] ] ]

Example 12.32 Syntactically Flat Expression of Four-Bit Adder

12.8.16 Conditionality

The basis of conditionality in the language is content emerging fromassociation flow paths at a destination place to form correspondencenames dynamically forming association relationships. The formed namemust match the name of an expressed definition.

In Example 12.33 the invocationname is expressed as two destinationplaces. When content flows to both destination places, an invocationnameis formed and the named definition is invoked. The most primitiveconditionality is the invocation of a value transform rule. Thedefinition of the Boolean OR operator in Example 12.34 illustratesconditional invocation of value transform rules. The contents ofassociation paths A< > and B< > emerge at the destination places $A and$B to form an invocationname. The invoked definition returns a constant,which becomes the content of the single source place, which is returnedto the place of invocation as content of the un-named source place andbegins flowing through association paths.

-   -   $A$B( . . . )

Example 12.33 Conditional Invocationname

-   -   OR[(A< >B< >)<$A$B( )>:0[0] 1[1] 00[0] 01[1] 10[1] 11[1]]

Example 12.34 Conditional Invocation of Value Transform Rules

12.8.17 IF-THEN-ELSE

The IF-THEN-ELSE construct can be expressed with simple nameconventions. In Example 12.35 The association path $logic to logical< >to $logical is assumed by convention to contain either TRUE or FALSE.The contents of the second and third places of the destination list areconstants that are the names of the conditional definitions. $logicalbecomes either TRUE or FALSE, invoking the named definitions containedwithin the definition of IF. The definition for TRUE returns the contentof thenname< >. The definition for FALSE returns the content ofelsename< >. The returned content flows through $name to result< > to$result to form an invocation of either THIS or THAT, which aredefinitions contained in the definition containing the invocation of IF.The thenname and the elsename can be any arbitrary local names. Thenames just have to have corresponding definitions.

IF($logic, THIS, THAT)(result< >)  ...... $result( ) .... :THIS[........] THAT[....] ] IF[(logical< > thenname< >elsename< >)($name)   $logical() :     TRUE[ name<$thenname>]     FALSE[name<$elsename>] ]

Example 12.35 IF-THEN-ELSE Expression Conventions

A convention of naming is established with a set of definitions thatreturn a set of common names. Example 12.36 is a set of conditionalsthat all return TRUE or FALSE.

  binaryequal[(a< > b< >) $a$b( ) :   00[TRUE] 01[FALSE] 10[FALSE]11[TRUE] ]   binarygreater[(a< > b< >) $a$b( ) :   00[FALSE] 01[FALSE]10[TRUE] 11[FALSE] ]   logicaland[(a< > b< >) $a$b( ) :   FALSEFALSE[FALSE] FALSETRUE [FALSE]     TRUEFALSE[FALSE]TRUETRUE[TRUE] ]   logicalnot[(a< >) $a( ) TRUE[FALSE] FALSE[TRUE] ]

Example 12.36 Set of Definitions Establishing Correspondence NameConvention

An invocation of a conditional can be nested in a destination list ofthe Invocation of IF as in Example 12.37.

IF(equal($X $Y), THIS, THAT)(result< >) . . . $result( ) . . . THIS[ . .. ] THAT[ . . . ]]

Example 12.37 Nested Conditional that Returns TRUE or FALSE

12.8.18 IF-THEN

In the IF-THEN construct the ELSE is left to a default behavior. In asequential expression, this means continuing the sequence. However, inthe invocation language, there are no default behaviors, so thisconstruct is not viable in the invocation language.

12.8.19 Multi-Way Conditionality

Multi-way conditionality is directly expressed in the invocationlanguage with multiple name to multiple place correspondence as shown inExample 12.38. The invocation passes the name of the definition to beinvoked. The set of names must be a pre-expressed convention between theinvocation and the definition. While nested IFs can be expressed in thelanguage, there is no inherent need to binary encode conditions anddecode them with nested IFs.

dox($choice) dox[(todo< > )   <$todo()> :     doA[ ... ]     doB[ ... ]    doC[ ... ]     ........     doZ[ ... ] ]

Example 12.38 Expression of Multi-Way Conditionality

12.8.20 Coordination Boundaries

The invocation language is a language of association relationships amongcomposition boundaries. The behavior of an expression unfolds withcontent flowing along association paths through composition boundaries.Each invocation expresses a composition boundary that is also acoordination boundary, every one of which must be coordinated. Thelanguage assumes that all boundaries are coordinated with thecompleteness criterion behavior.

12.8.21 Invocation Boundaries

An invocation associates destination places in a destination list andsource places in a source list. Each place and each list represents aboundary of completeness behavior. Content flow from boundary toboundary must be coordinated both within an invocation and betweeninvocations. The completeness boundaries of the invocation are reflectedto a definition, as shown in FIG. 152, that contains the expressionbetween these two boundaries in its place of resolution. The expressioninside the definition will also contain invocations with boundariesforming a hierarchical structure of composition boundaries, whichexpresses rich possibilities of partitioning and coordinating.

12.8.22 Coordination Behavior

The essence of coordination is completeness behavior. In a sequence ofoperations, each operation must be completed before the next operationin the sequence can commence. In an invocation language expression, theresolution of each invocation must be completed before its correctresult flows to further associations and it accepts a new presentationto resolve. Just as a sequential language assumes that anyimplementation will properly coordinate the completeness behavior of asequence, the invocation language assumes a universal convention ofcompleteness behavior and assumes that when an invocation expression ismapped to autonomous behavior and partitioned in various ways alongboundaries according to the available resources, that the partitionedboundaries will be coordinated in ways which realize the completenessbehavior in one way or another. It is sufficient for the language toexpress coordination boundaries with their completeness criteria withoutexpressing the details of coordination.

The universal convention assumed by the language is the completenesscriterion: The completeness of content at one boundary impliescompleteness at boundaries from which content flows to that boundary.The completeness criterion forms a basis of coordination supportingprotocols from the NULL convention to the cycle to high-levelcommunication protocols. The completeness criterion also encompasses theinterval and the clock protocol. The task of the interval is to expresswhen a resolution is complete and correct. The task of the clock is tosynchronize the completeness of concurrent intervals and of successiveintervals.

The Completeness Dialog

The completeness criterion enables the simple dialogue of FIG. 153. Thisdialogue assumes the NULL convention as an integral part of thedialogue. The dialogue occurs between the output boundary of aninvocation and all the destination places to which its source placesassociate. And the dialogue occurs between the input boundary of aninvocation and all the source places to which its destination placesassociate. A dialogue also occurs between the input boundary as a wholeand the output boundary as a whole of an invocation, shown in FIG. 154.The thank you and the request are also called an acknowledge.

The two dialogues are structurally identical. It is such a dialogue,based on completeness relationships, that is assumed by the language tocoordinate the flow of content between all boundaries.

Four-Phase Handshake Protocol

The dialogue is identical to the classic four-phase handshake protocol,which is typically presented, as shown in FIG. 155, as two signals withinterlocking behavior coordinating the transfer of content between twoplaces. Only the send behaviors are explicitly represented by thesignals, which are labeled with the behavior names. The receivebehaviors are implied by the send behaviors and are usually illustratedwith arrows. “Content” implies that the request was received. “Thanks”implies that the content was received. “Welcome” implies that the“thanks” was received. “Request” implies that the welcome was received.

The Cycle Protocol

Cycle behavior introduced in Section 7.2.1 is a direct expression of thecompleteness dialogue. The dialogue can be interlinked just like cyclesare interlinked to manage flow of content. Interlinked cycles express aprogression of coordination dialogues. FIG. 156 illustrates the dialoguebehavior of interlinked cycles forming an autonomously behavingpipeline.

12.8.23 Coordinating Boundaries

Within an invocation the content of the destination list ultimatelyflows to the content of the source list, and the completeness of thesource list is coordinated with the completeness of the destinationlist. Each destination place in the destination list will associate withand coordinate with a source place in the greater expression. Eachsource place in the source list will associate with and coordinate withone or more destination places in the greater expression. Within theinvocation the source list as a whole must coordinate with thedestination list as a whole.

Each boundary must acknowledge all the places that contribute to itscontent and must be acknowledged by all the places to which itcontributes. Acknowledge relationships for the example of FIG. 152 areshown in FIG. 157. When the four destination places of the destinationlist are complete, the destination list acknowledges the four sourceplaces. When the two source places of the source list are complete, thesource list acknowledges the destination list. When the threedestination places associated with the two source places of the sourcelist are complete, each acknowledges the source list. When acknowledgesfrom all destination places are received, the source list of theinvocation is acknowledged.

All boundaries between explicitly coordinated boundaries are coordinatedwith the completeness criterion. All boundaries above explicitlycoordinated boundaries are coordinated in terms of the explicitlycoordinated boundaries. These coordination relationships are discussedin Section 7.2.

Clocked Coordination

Coordination can also be added at a chosen hierarchical level with atime interval, a clock and clocked registers. However, the timingbehavior of the encompassed expression must then be guaranteed to bewithin the timing constraints of the clock and the behavior of theregisters. FIG. 158 shows the four-bit adder coordinated with clockedregisters.

Mapping to Sequential Coordination

An invocation expression can be easily mapped to an explicit expressionof sequential coordination. The semicolon is introduced as a new syntaxsymbol to express statement sequence. Each invocation is a boundedstatement. The invocations are sorted such that all source placesprecede their associated destination places in the sequence. The placecorrespondence names become variable names referencing memory locations.Each source place represents a memory write operation, and eachdestination place represents a memory read operation. The sequentializedexpression is shown in Example 12.39.

4BITADD  ($A0 $B0 $A1 $B1 $A2 $B2 $A3 $B3 $C0)   (SUM0< > SUM1< >SUM2< > SUM3< > CARRYOUT3< >); 4BITADD[(A0< > B0< > A1< > B1< > A2< >B2< > A3< > B3< >C0< >)   ($SUM0 $SUM1 $SUM2 $SUM3 $CARRYOUT3)  FULLADD($A0 $B0 $C0)(SUM0< > CARRYOUT0< >);   FULLADD($A1 $B1$CARRYOUT0)(SUM1< >   CARRYOUT1< >);   FULLADD($A2 $B2$CARRYOUT1)(SUM2< >   CARRYOUT2< >);   FULLADD($A3 $B3$CARRYOUT2)(SUM3< >   CARRYOUT3< >); ] FULLADD[(X< >Y< >C< >)( $SUM$CARRY)   NOT($X)(OP1< >);   NOT($Y)(OP2< >);   AND($OP1 $Y)(OP4 < >);  AND($X $OP2)(OP3< >);   AND($X $Y)(OP10< >);   OR($OP4$OP3)(FIRSTSUM< >);   NOT($C)(OP6< >);   NOT($FIRSTSUM)(OP5< >);  AND($C $OP5)(OP8< >);   AND($OP6 $FIRSTSUM)(OP7< >);   AND($C$FIRSTSUM)(OP9< >);   OR($OP7 $OP8)(SUM< >);   OR($OP10 $OP9)(CARRY< >);]

Example 12.39 Sequentialized Four-Bit Adder

12.9 Large Domains of Differentness

Large domains of mutually exclusive differentness are expressed withlarge sets of unique names. For a pure association expression, eachunique place must have a correspondence name. For a pure valueexpression, the character set of the language will rapidly run out ofunique characters and the values will need to be represented as uniquenames. Proteins, for instance, might be represented with their fullyspelled out protein names.

The discussion will focus on association expression. The simplestexpression of a large domain of differentness is a large collection ofplaces with unique association relationships. Each place is anappreciation of an interaction of differentnesses.

FIG. 12.26 illustrates expression of unique places as appreciation ofinteractions of differentnesses. It shows both the graphical expressionand the language expression of the minterm form of a pure associationexpression for a binary full-adder. In the language expression there areeight invocations with just a destination list. Each destination list isa unique combination of associations to places in the source list. Giventhe mutual exclusivity relationships of the places in the source list,only one invocation destination list will become complete, thus enablingits invocation. The enabled invocation will invoke its named definitionand generate the indicated output behavior.

There can be large mutually exclusive input domains of differentnesswhose interaction produces a very large mutually exclusive domain ofappreciation differentnesses. A large domain of differentness can beexpressed by expanding the mutually exclusive input domains. FIG. 160shows an expression with two large input domains and a very largeminterm. There might be K mutually exclusive input domains each with Lpossibilities resulting in LK possible appreciation minterm places. Eachappreciation can enable a behavior appropriate to the appreciated name.The names are shown in the example as a progression of place-valuenames, and while there may be convenient aspects to expressing the namesas place-value numbers, there is no need that the names be ordinal orcardinal or be otherwise related beyond each being unique.

12.10 Experience Memory

An enabled place can be a ring that remembers the behaviors coincidentwith an appreciation. There might be several input domains ofdifferentness such as visual recognition input, tactile input, smellinput, or hearing input. These differentnesses can combine resolving toa very large domain of unique places appreciating an experience. Thecurrent behavior is presented to all the rings, and each experienceappreciation enables one ring that remembers the behaviors coincidentwith the experience. One can start with a very large expression, and asexperience accrues, the rings become populated with content. Each accessof a ring is both a read and a write. The remembered content spills out,combines with the current content of the experience, flows back into thering, and continues on to influence the next behavior of the expression.

FIG. 161 shows the structure of an experience memory and its languageexpression. The inputs are the current behavior and the multipledifferentness domains. The appreciation is the familiarity and thecontent of the memory is the reminiscence. The memory associatesexperience through time.

12.11 Conditional Iteration

The greatest common divisor algorithm of Euclid (GCD), shown in theflowchart of FIG. 162, illustrates conditional iteration in thelanguage. The algorithm generates intermediate values until M is equalto 0, at which point N is equal to the greatest common divisor of theinput M and N. Example 12.40 is the invocation expression of thegreatest common divisor algorithm. The association relationships form aring that the content flows around until the termination state isreached. N is passed on as the GCD, and a new pair of numbers isallowed.

inv GCD($M $N)( GCD< >) def GCD[(M< >N< >)( $GCD)   init< 0 >  LTsteer($M,$N)(inlesser< > ingreater< >)   dualfanin($incondition{$inlesser $remainder}{$ingreater   $cyclelesser})     (lesser< >greater< >)   Mod($cyclelesser $cyclegreater)(remainder< >)  EQ0({$lesser $init})(incondition< > outcondition< > )  dualfanout($outcondition $lesser $greater)      ({(cyclelesser< >cyclegreater< >) ( SINK< >      GCD< >)})   dualfanin[(steer< >{A< >B< >}{C< > D< >})($out1 $out2)     $steer( ):     True[out1< $A > out2<$B >]             False[out1< $C > out2 < $D >]]   dualfanout[(steer< >A< > B< >)({($out1 $out2)   ($out3 $out4)})     $steer( ):    True[out1< $A > out2< $B >]             False[ out3< $B > out4<$A >]]   EQ0[(A< >)($condition $condition)     condition<Equal($A,0 )>:]  LTsteer[(A< >B< >)($out1 $out2)     LT($A $B):     True[out1< $A >out2< $B >             False[out1< $B > out2< $A >]] ]

Example 12.40 The Invocation Expression of the Greatest Common Divisor

FIG. 163 shows the association structure of the invocation expression.LTsteer makes sure that the inputs are correctly oriented in terms ofmagnitude. The invocation of dualfanin accepts input from either theinput or the feedback ring depending on the content of $lesser (M). Iflesser is equal to zero, then a new input can be accepted. If it isgreater than zero, then a resolution is in progress. The content ofsource place init< > provides an input of 0 to the invocation of EQ0 toconfigure the expression to accept its first input.

The invocation of dualfanout delivers the content of the pipeline intothe ring or to the output depending on the value of $lesser. Thefunction N mod M is performed in the feedback ring, and passed throughdualfanin; then the content of $lesser is tested. If $lesser is zero,then the resolution is completed and dualfanout delivers the content of$greater to the output as the greatest common divisor and discards thecontent of lesser.

12.12 Value Sequencer

Example 12.41 is a simple expression that continually rotates throughfour values. Each time it is invoked, it returns the next value. Thevalue is maintained in the invocation itself in the feedback associationfrom the source list to the destination list. The value is initializedby setting the content of value< > to 0.

inv fourstate($value)(value< 0 >) ... $value def fourstate[(curvalue< >)($nextvalue)   nextvalue <$curvalue( )> :     0[1] 1[2] 2[3] 3[0] ]]

Example 12.41 Four-Value Sequencer

Example 12.42 is a pure association version of a value sequencer.

inv  fourvalue($value)(value< 0 >) ...  $value def  fourvalue[([{S1 < >S2 < > S3 < > S4 < > }])([{$SA $SB $SC     $SD}])     A( $S4 )     B($S1 )     C( $S2 )     D( $S3 ) :     A[SA<D>] B[SB<D>] C[SC<D>]D[SD<D>] ] ]

Example 12.42 Pure Association Sequencer

Example 12.43 is a pure value version of a value sequencer.

inv  fourstate($value)(value< 0 >) ...  $value def  fourstate[(curvalue< >)($nextvalue)     $curvalue :       0[nextvalue <1>] 1[nextvalue <2>]      2[nextvalue <3>] 3[nextvalue <0>] ] ]

Example 12.43 Pure Value Sequencer

The invocation maintaining the value can be inside the definition, as inExample 12.44. In this case the invocation does not send the currentvalue but just requests the next value. The internal memory valuesequencer is a wavefront source continually presenting successivewavefronts to the place of the invocation.

inv  fourvalue( ) def  fourvalue[( )($value)    nextvalue($value)(value< 0 >) :    nextvalue[(curvalue< >)($newvalue)       newvalue<$curvalue( )>        0[1] 1[2] 2[3] 3[0] ] ]

Sequencer with internal state maintaining invocation.

12.13 Code Detector

The code detector of Example 12.45 detects the occurrence of codesequence 0010111 in a continuous stream of bits. It is a state machinethat enters a particular state when the sequence is detected. Theinvocation of code receives the current state and the next bit in thestream, invokes the definition of code, and receives in return the nextstate and the detect condition. The next state in the source listassociates with current state in the destination list. When the next bitarrives, the definition is invoked with the current state and the nextbit. The expression is initialized by setting the content of state< > toS0. The behavior of the state machine is presented in FIG. 164 as afunction table and as a state transition graph.

inv code($state $nextbit)(state< S0 > detect< >) defcode[(currentstate< > newbit< >)($state $detect) $newbit$currentstate( ):   0S0[detect< no > state<S1>]   0S1[detect< no > state<S2>]  0S2[detect< no > state<S2>]   0S3[detect< no > state<S4>]  0S4[detect< no > state<S2>]   0S5[detect< no > state<S1>]  0S6[detect< no > state<S1>]   1S0[detect< no > state<S0>]  1S1[detect< no > state<S0>]   1S2[detect< no > state<S3>]  1S3[detect< no > state<S0>]   1S4[detect< no > state<S5>]  1S5[detect< no > state<S6>]   1S6[detect< yes > state<S0>]]

Example 12.45 Code Detector State Machine

The code detector always asserts a yes or a no for the detect condition.A response filter expression, such as Example 12.16 shown earlier inthis chapter, can receive the detect condition and only pass on the yescondition.

12.14 A Control Program

This example is an expression to control the behavior of a set ofstoplights at an intersection. There is a main road and a side roadforming a Tee. The traffic lights are green for the main road and redfor the side road until a car is detected on the side road by a magloopswitch. The lights then cycle to red for main road and green for sideroad to allow the car on the side road to enter the main road. Eachcycle has a specific period. The main lights become amber for 5 seconds,the main lights are red and the side light green for 40 seconds, and theside light is amber for 5 seconds, then the main light becomes green andthe side light red for 60 seconds before another control cycle isallowed.

There are two walk buttons controlling walk lights for the main road andfor the side road. When the side road button is pushed, the side roadlight is red and the main light is green; the walk light for the sideroad will cycle to walk for 20 seconds and then don't walk for 10seconds before allowing another control cycle.

When the main walk button is pushed, the main lights will cycle to redfor the main road and red for the side road. The walk lights will thencycle to walk for 20 seconds and don't walk for 10 seconds. Then themain light will cycle back to green.

The control program is shown as Example 12.46. The sequencing behaviorof the program is expressed with a single token flowing through theplaces named Nx in the expression. The Nx places form a structure ofthree rings coupled through the invocation of listen. The single tokenflows from listen into a control ring and sequences the expression'sbehaviors as it flows through the ring and then back to the listeninvocation. The ring structure of the expression and its response to theswitch inputs is shown in FIG. 165.

The input to listen is the token and content from the magloop switch orthe walk buttons. The token input is received in the mutually exclusiveplaces $N9, $N20 and $N25. The enclosing braces indicate that only oneplace will have content at a time, which is true by virtue of therebeing only one token. The switch and button destination placesencompassed by double braces are arbitrated into the invocation. Thesource list of the listen invocation has three places encompassed bybraces, indicating that only one place will have content: the singletoken. The definition of listen receives the token and directs it to aspecific output according to the switch and button content. The tokenflowing through a specific output path enables and begins a specificcontrol sequence. The control periods are expressed with an invocationof delay which receives the token and returns it after the specifiedperiod.

  World[   magloop< > mainbutton< > sidebutton< > startA< token >  $mainlight $sidelight $mainwalklight $sidewalklight     “listen forswitch and buttons”   listen({$N9 $N20 $N25} {{$magloop $mainbutton$sidebutton}})({N1< > N10< > N21 < >})   listen[(token< >signal< >)({$out1 $out2 $out3})     $signal( ) :  magloop[out1<$token>]    mainbutton[out2<$token>]sidebutton[out3<$token>] ]     “cycle main lights”  setlights($N1,AR)(N2< > mainlight< > sidelight< >) delay($N2,5)(N3< >)   setlights($N3,RG)(N4< > mainlight< > sidelight< >)delay($N4, 40)(N5< >)   setlights($N5,RA)(N6< > mainlight< >sidelight< >) delay($N6, 5)(N7< >)   setlights({$N7 $startC},GR)(N8< >mainlight< > sidelight< >) delay($N8 60)(N9< >)     “cycle main walklight”   setlights($N10,AR)(N11< > mainlight< > sidelight< >)delay($N11, 5)(N12< >)   setlights($N12,RR)(N13< > mainlight< >sidelight< >) delay($N13, 5)(N14< >)   setmainwalk($N14,W)(N15< >walklight< >) delay($N15, 20)(N16< >)   setmainwalk($N16,DW)(N17< >walklight< >) delay($N17, 10)(N18< >)   setlights($N18,GR)(N19< >mainlight< > sidelight< >) delay($N19, 60)(N20< >)     “cycle side walklight”   setsidewalk($N21,W)(N22< > walklight< >) delay($N22,20)(N23< >)   setsidewalk($N23,DW)(N24< > walklight< >) delay($N24,10)(N25< >)     “initialize walk lights”  setsidewalk($startA,DW)(startA1< > walklight< >) delay($startA1,10)(startB< >)   setmainwalk($startB,DW)(starB1< > walklight< >)delay($startB1, 10)(startC< >)   setlights[(Nx< > color< >)($next $main$side)     next<$Nx > $color( ) :       GR[main<green> side<red>]AR[[main<amber> side<red>]       RG[[main<red> side<green>]RA[[main<red> side<amber>]       RR[[main<red> side<red>] ]  setmainwalk[($Nx< >,color< >)($next $mainwalklight)     next<$Nx>$color( ) :       W[walklight<WALK>]] DW[walklight<DON'T WALK>] ]  setsidewalk[($Nx< >,color< >)($next $sidewalklight)     next<$Nx>$color( ) :       W[walklight<WALK>]] DW[walklight<DON'T WALK>] ] ]

Example 12.46 Street Light Control Program

The expression is within a definition named world with no source listand no destination list: no input and no output. There are free sourceplaces and destination places within the definition. The free sourceplaces magloop, mainbutton and sidebutton represent the switchesproviding input to the control expression. The free destination placesmainlight, sidelight, mainwalklight and sidewalklight represent thelights that are being controlled by the control expression. These freeplaces are the interfaces of the expression. They can be considered thedangling wires to be connected.

The liveness of the expression derives from the flowing token and theswitch inputs. The expression is started with a token content in thefree source place named startA< > that flows through two invocations toinitialize the walk lights. The token then enters the control paths andinitializes the traffic lights through $startC. $N7 and $startC areencompassed in braces, indicating that only one will have content at atime. The token initially flows through the $startC place and afterwardflows through the $N7 place.

12.15 LFSR

The binary Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR) shown in FIG. 166 is acomplex cyclic association structure of invocations of XORs andinvocations of buffers. Each buffer is initialized with 0 or 1. Theexpression of the LFSR is the association structure of invocations ofXOR and BUF. In the graphic expression, the output of each function isnamed with a letter. In the string expression, the output of eachinvocation is named with the corresponding letter. Any number ofinvocations can associate with any source place of the LFSR fromanywhere in the greater expression. Example 12.47 shows three externalinvocations associating with the LFSR.

World[ invoc($K)(...) ...... invoc2($D)(...) ....... invoc3($F)(...)XOR($C,$D)(M< >) XOR($E,$F)(N< >) XOR($M,$N)(O< >) BUF($C)(D<0>)BUF($D)(E<1>) BUF($B)(C<0>) BUF($E)(F<0>) XOR($A,$B)(Q< >)XOR($G,$H)(R< >) XOR($Q,$R)(S< >) BUF($L)(A<0>) BUF($A)(B<0>)BUF($F)(G<1>) BUF($P)(H<0>) XOR($O,$G)(P< >) BUF($H)(J<1>)XOR($S,$J)(K< >) BUF ($K)(L<0>)  : XOR[(A< >B< >)<$A$B( )> : 00[0] 01[1]10[1] 11[0] ] BUF[(content< >)($content)] ]

Example 12.47 Linear Feedback Shift Register

The LFSR could be isolated in a definition, but that would limit itsaccessibility. The LFSR is a wavefront source. The initialized valuescontinually cycle around the rings of the LFSR, producing a steadystream of wavefronts to all associated destination places. Residing inthe midst of a large expression, it can send wavefronts to many placessimultaneously.

12.16 Summary

The Invocation language is a language of association relationships.Uncluttered with conventions and confusions, it captures the bareessentials and elegant simplicity of expressing concurrent distributedbehavior from its most primitive form to expressions of arbitrarycomplexity. It encompasses all forms of process expression from logiccircuits to mathematical computation, from cell metabolism to neuronnetworks and biological structures.

The language is presented in the context of a contemporary programminglanguage, but there are many familiar programming concepts andconstructs that are not included in the language.

There is no conception of sequence in the language. The languageexpresses generally concurrent behavior in terms of associationrelationships and flow boundaries coordinated in terms of completenessrelationships.

There is no conception of explicit control in the language. The languageassumes fully distributed locally autonomous behavior. Content flowsspontaneously through paths of association, locally coordinating itsflow from boundary to boundary in terms of completeness relationships.The notion of explicit control does not arise.

There are no predefined control operators in the language. Nameformation is the primitive behavior of the language from which allexpression of conditionality derives.

There is no predefined set of primitive symbols. Any set of symbols canbe used. A small set of the available symbols must be reserved toexpress the syntax structures and the rest can be used to expresscorrespondence names and content. The symbols used in this chapter aresimply a convenient set of symbols familiar to most readers.

There are no predefined data types, data operators or data structures.What is commonly considered to be data and its operations are expressedfrom scratch in the language instead of being pre-defined. Expression inthe language begins with value transform rules expressing the primitiveinteraction relationships among the available symbol values. Sets ofvalue transform rules can be encapsulated within a definition expressingan operation on a data element. Further hierarchical definitions expressmore complex compositions of data and their behaviors.

There is no conception of separate addressable memory in the languageand no notion of a variable as a reference to memory. Content of aresolving instance of a process is assumed to be maintained in theassociation paths of an expression. The notion of a separate addressablememory does not arise.

There is no conception of a sampleable state space. The language assumesfully determined locally autonomous behavior. “State transitions” canoccur at any time. There are no predictable instants of stability tosample an extended state space. An expression is understood and trustedin terms of its fully determined symbolic behavior. The notion of statespace is meaningless and unnecessary.

There is no conception of time reference or time relationship in thelanguage. The behavior of an expression is purely in terms of symbolicbehavior. There is no need for any global or local referent of time orof any form of time-related behavior within the language. Any relationto an external time referent is an implementation issue, not a languageissue.

The invocation language provides a general solution to concurrent systemdesign and to concurrent programming that is uniform and consistent atall levels of hierarchical composition from value interaction mappingtables to the highest levels of abstraction. Invocation expressions canbe mapped to any convenient implementation environment from a directimplementation of the pipeline structure to a conventional sequentialcomputer or to any flavor of distributed multiprocessing environment inbetween such as multiple core processors or sea of ALU processors. Theinvocation language is the key to scalable computing and to concurrentcomputing.

12.17 Reflections

Contemporary computer science is deeply flawed. One might think that thetechnical and commercial success of computers speaks to the robustnessof the theoretical concepts supporting the enterprise, bu, far fromdelivering conceptual enlightenment, insight and support in building andusing computers, contemporary theory injects unnecessary complexity,expense and risk into the enterprise. The success of electroniccomputers has been largely a matter of engineering determination andcleverness by the humans in the works, even as the theory has made theengineering more complex than necessary.

12.18 In the Beginning

The notion of mechanical computation has been knocking aroundmathematics since the thirteenth century. It came to fruition in thetwentieth century with the formalization of mathematical computation inthe notion of the algorithm and the Turing machine. The electroniccomputer was the embodiment of the mathematical notion of mechanicalcomputation, the extension of an established mathematical idea. Itseemed obvious that the computer was a mathematical object encompassedwithin the theoretical foundations of mathematics.

The problem is that the theoretical foundations of mathematics have notworked out very well as theoretical foundations for computer science.Chapter 1: “A Critical Review of the Notion of the Algorithm in ComputerScience” criticizes the theoretical foundations of contemporary computerscience and argues that computer science is not mathematics at all, thatmathematicians and computer scientists are pursuing very differentgoals.

-   -   Computer science is primarily concerned with the nature of the        expression of processes regardless of what particular process        might be expressed.    -   Mathematics is primarily concerned with the nature of the        behavior of a specific process regardless of how that process        might be expressed.

Computer science is a science of process expression, quite distinct frommathematics, and the conceptual foundations of mathematics are notappropriate for computer science. A conceptual orientation that filtersout variety of expression is not the best foundation for studyingvariety of expressivity.

Furthermore computer science aspires to encompass the symboliccomputational processes of nature such as cell biology and brainfunction. There are no Turing machines in nature, no global clocks, nocentral memories. Nature is not binary, and it is not Boolean. Ifcomputer science wishes to more closely model nature, then it needsconceptual models more closely attuned to nature's expressions.

12.19 The Root Problem

Chapter 2: “The Simplicity of Concurrency” attacks the nuts and bolts ofcontemporary computer science head on. The conceptual difficulties ofcomputer science can be traced to the mathematical notion of a functionas a stateless mapping. Composed functions produce races and hazards. Atime interval is added to isolate the unruly logic behavior, and furthercomposition must be in terms of the time intervals, which can only becomposed synchronously or sequentially. A sequence of operationsrequires explicit sequence control, and an addressable memory isrequired to park data awaiting its turn in sequence. The notion of asamplable state space is introduced to provide a methodology ofconfidence.

12.20 The Labyrinth

This is a structure of interlinked, mutually supporting concepts forminga labyrinth that is difficult to escape. A conceptual view can defenditself by appearing ideally suited within its own context and makingother conceptual views appear less than ideal. Sequentiality appearsstraightforward and much simpler than concurrency, but this is only ifboth sequentiality and concurrency are looked at in terms ofsequentiality.

12.21 Exiting the Labyrinth

The only path to a different conceptual view is to start over from theprimitive beginning. Chapter 2 introduces the NULL convention and theconcept of state holding primitives that understand how to cooperateamong themselves. A quite different conceptual view emerges.

A concurrent composition of state-holding primitives cooperate todeterministically coordinate the flow of resolution. There is no need ofthe concept of a time interval, no need of the notion of synchronoussequentiality, no need of explicit control, no need for a notion of anaddressable memory and finally no need of the notion of a state space.Primitive state-holding functions are sufficient in themselves to buildcomplex expressions in contrast to primitive stateless functions thatmust be supported with a Rube Goldberg structure of ad hoc concepts. Oneglimpses the simplicity of concurrency and the complexity ofsequentiality.

Table 13.1 contrasts the two views of process expression. The leftcolumn lists the familiar notions that must be abandoned and the rightcolumn lists the new notions that must be embraced.

TALBE 13.1 A contrast of world views. Abandon the notions of Embrace thenotions of Stateless functions State-holding functions Time intervalLogical completeness Synchronicity Distributed local behaviorSequentiality Concurrency Explicit control Cooperation Common memoryDistributed content flow Extended state space Logical determinism

12.22 Computer Gods

How is it that deeply flawed theoretical foundations have seeminglysupported the greatest technological achievement in human history. Theanswer is the humans in the works. The success of the computer has beenlargely a matter of engineering cleverness and determination masking theshortcomings of concept.

The humans are another “presence” of the mathematical heritage: thesymbol system defining human, the algorithm inventing human, the machinedesigning human and the pencil wielding human. The computer eliminatedthe pencil wielding human, but the others remain in the works.

If one only wants a working expression of a process, appeal to arbitrarysufficiency, if it is available, can be conveniently effective. However,if one is seeking insight into the nature of process expression itself,the presence of arbitrarily sufficient expressivity fundamentallyundermines any such effort. Appeal to arbitrary sufficiency can revealnothing about essential necessity. Saying a human does it in computerscience is like saying a God does it in physics.

A human is an arbitrarily capable attribute that can make anything work,filling in the nooks and crannies of conceptual shortcomings. No theorycan be falsified. Theories cannot be compared because all theories workequally well. The humans in the works both realize the computer and denyit theoretical closure.

But are the humans really necessary? Computing mechanisms and processesexist in nature and computer science aspires to encompass theseprocesses, in particular, biological and neural processes. Theseprocesses are clearly naturally occurring phenomena, are decidedly notartifactual, and do not have humans in their works. If computer scienceis to encompass brains and other natural processes, it must eliminateits humans in the works.

Chapter 3: “Dehumanizing Computer Science” introduces the notion of thepure value expression within which expressions can spontaneously ariseand persist. No human creators, inventors or designers are needed.

12.23 What's in a Name?

The notion of the variable is another idea from mathematics that sort ofworks but causes a lot of problems also. Chapter 4: “Transcending theVariable” sets the stage for a programming language purely in terms ofassociation relationships by showing that a variable name is reallyexpressing an association relationship. If a variable name is understoodas expressing a direct association relationship rather than as areference to memory, then the problems of ambiguous reference and sideeffects do not arise.

12.24 The Invocation Model

Chapter 5: “The Invocation Model” introduces the invocation model ofprocess expression that characterizes process in terms of the expressionand appreciation of differentness. The invocation model posits aprimitive theng that asserts one at a time of two or more possiblevalues. Theng represents spatial persistence and value representssymbolic mutability. Thengs can associate forming structures withinwhich each theng is different by virtue of its place in the structure.Values interact according to value transform rules. A value is differentby virtue of its interaction behavior with other values. Associatedthengs and changing values are two different ways of expressing andappreciating differentness that cooperate to form expressions ofindefinite complexity. Thengs associating and asserting values thatchange according to value transform rules prove sufficient to encompassall familiar forms of process expression. No additional concepts wereintroduced, and none were needed.

Process can be expressed purely in terms of value differentness, purelyin terms of association differentness, or as a combination ofassociation differentness and value differentness forming a spectrum ofexpression from pure value expression on one end to pure associationexpression on the other end with mixed expression in the middle.

While the behavior of pure value interaction can be discrete, directedand deterministic, associated thengs do not inherently exhibitdirectional, discrete or determined behavior. It was shown how to usevalue differentiation to achieve association expressions with discrete,directed and deterministic behavior with the NULL convention and theunit of association convention. The pure association expression was thenpresented that expresses a process purely in terms of associationdifferentiation. With pure association expression emerged a new form ofminimum value logic, 2 value NULL Convention Logic.

The invocation model and its spectrum of expression directly relates theexpression forms of nature and of humans. Nature's expressions such asproteins in the cytoplasm, which use lots of values and littleassociation structure, fall toward the pure value end of the spectrum.Nature's expression of the brain and DNA fall toward the pureassociation end of the spectrum. Humans are fond of the pure associationend of the spectrum with large association structures and very fewvalues.

Chapter 6: “Along the Spectrum” journeys across the spectrum with asingle example process expressed at different places along the spectrumillustrating the pure forms of expression and the mixed forms ofexpression with a discussion of the relative efficiencies of the variousforms.

12.25 Composing Differentness

Primitive differentnesses and primitive appreciations compose to formmore complex expressions. Chapter 7: “Composing Boundaries” discussesthe composition of complex expressions and the coordination of thecomposed behaviors for both association expressions and valueexpressions. Greater association expressions are composed by associatingbehavior boundaries of lesser expressions, forming a hierarchy ofnetworks of composition boundaries that are also completenessboundaries, coordination boundaries and partition boundaries.

12.26 The Cycle

The cycle, a feedback relationship with spontaneously oscillatingbehavior, is introduced as a first level of explicit coordination inconjunction with the NULL convention. The cycle provides liveness to anexpression as well as coordination behavior. Cycles can be interlinked.forming spontaneously behaving and fully coordinated pipelinestructures. It was also shown that cycles can be expressed and linked toexpression pipeline structures within a pure value expression.

12.27 The Last Composition

With any association composition there will be un-composed danglingboundaries. The last composition that encompasses the danglingboundaries of the association expression is a pure value expression.Association expression begins with primitive components within a purevalue expression, and an association expression remains a component ofthe pure value expression. Appreciating differentness takes on newmeaning for the association expression as it drifts through the contentof the pure value expression.

While pure value composition was introduced as the top of the hierarchyof association composition, one can also find examples of pure valuecomposition at intermediate levels of association expression. Biologicalbodies mix both forms of expression at different levels in differentways. Biology starts with a pure value expression in the cytoplasmbounded by the cell membrane. There are also isolated pure valueexpressions, organelles, within the content of the cytoplasm. Cells areassociated into the hierarchical structures of tissues, organs andorganisms, but this association of cells is also composed in terms ofthe pure value expression of the blood that associates universally withall cells. The alimentary canal is a pure value expression encompassedby an association expression.

12.28 Nature's Compositions

Association expressions spontaneously arise in nature within the purevalue expressions of soil, sea and air. A primary organizing principleof spontaneous composition may be the fact of catastrophic failure.There are no halfway persistent expressions. There are no 99% persistentexpressions. The successes are absolute successes. There is noprogressive approach to persistence. Whatever succeeds arises suddenlywith no precursor and no history of failure. A persistent locus mayevolve after arising, but it did not evolve before arising. It seemsexceptional because the failures that went before are not recorded.Nature does not learn from her mistakes. She just forges ahead with hersuccesses. She may not have very pretty design rules, but she has aruthlessly effective debugger and that may be sufficient. The questionis, What are the possibilities and what is the capacity for experiment?If both are sufficiently large, possibilities will occur.

12.29 Time and Memory

An expression adrift in a greater pure value expression might find ituseful to appreciate differentness through time. Appreciatingdifferentness through time requires memory to associate a differentnessfrom the past with a differentness in the future. Chapter 8: “Time andMemory” discusses the expression of differentness through time and itsappreciation.

An association expression is an inherent referent for time. Thesuccessive presentations of input provides a more or less uniform tickof time interval. The structure of an association expression provides areferent of present, past and future for each wavefront flowing throughthe expression. An association expression can contain associationstructures that delay content and associate it with future wavefronts,allowing the appreciation of differentness through time.

Process expression can be viewed as a structure of memories of variouspersistences. The expression itself is a locus of persistence that isrelatively stable from presentation to presentation. The presentationsto the expression are transient in relation to the expression itself.They are temporarily maintained within the expression as they flowthrough the expression. The expression can include memories that aremore transient than itself and less transient than its flowingpresentations. Structures of association relationships among thesememories of varying persistence form expressions that appreciatedifferentness through time.

12.30 The Arrogance of Bulk

an association expression is a reffferent for differentnesses flowingthrough it. As the content of memories including the expression itselfchanges, the appreciation behavior of the expression changes, but itdoes not cease to be a referent of differentness. Any associationexpression of sufficient persistence and stride of appreciation, even ifit is continually changing, becomes a de facto referent: an arrogantbulk projecting its appreciations on all it encounters.

12.31 Incidental Time

Not all expressions that extend through time with memory areappreciating differentness through time. Some expressions extend in timeas an incidental aspect of expression. Chapter 9: “Incidental Time”discusses incidental extension in time that can be a strategy ofenlivenment such as progressive interpretation of referentialexpressions or that can occur because of available resource limitations.The conventional computer extends expression in time for the purpose ofgeneral configurability and for convenience of implementation. A commonreason for extending an expression in time is a “time/space trade-off”where it is cheaper to use a single autonomous expression over and overin sequence with lots of memory rather than implement the autonomousexpression multiple times in a network of associations.

12.32 Points of View

An expression of a process begins with a point of view as to thedifferentnesses and their interaction. Chapter 10: “Points of View”presents and contrasts several points of view of process expression. Thelead example expression is an eagle landing on a branch. The process isconsidered from the point of view of an observer with a projectedspatial reference frame and differential equations. It is alsoconsidered from the point of view of the eagle as a pure associationexpression. Number as expression of differentness is discussed, and thenotion of a single-digit number is introduced to contrast the view interms of place-value numbers and the view in terms of pure associationexpression.

An observer is just an association expression interacting with anotherassociation expression projecting a point of view onto the observedexpression. There are three points of view involved. The observer's viewof its own intrinsic behaviors, the observer's view of its projection ofmetric onto the observed expression, and the observed expression's ownview of its intrinsic behaviors. The problem of the observer is to finda projected metric that best characterizes the observed expression. Theobserver should also try to appreciate the point of view of the observedexpression. The observer's quandary is that there is no meta referent ofcorrectness, no teacher giving hints. There is no way for the observingexpression to directly judge the efficacy of its projected metric or ofits take on the point of view of the observed expression. There are onlysubtle clues such as consistency, coherence, simplicity, correspondenceto experience, and so forth.

A point of view is formed in terms of its primitive concepts. The choiceof stateless functions or of state-holding functions leads todramatically different views of process expression. While everyexpression must adopt points of view, a point of view can createillusions, mask realities, and serve as a self-perpetuating referent insuch a way that it can be very difficult to transcend the point of view.There is no one most general or universal point of view, and there is nodefinitive guide to an effective point of view.

12.33 Referential and Autonomous Expression

Chapter 11: “Referential and Autonomous Process Expression” discussesthe notions of autonomous expression, which spontaneously behaves on itsown merits, and referential expression, which does not spontaneouslybehave on its own merits but requires the assistance of an autonomousexpression. Since it does not have to behave, referential expression canbe partial in many convenient ways realizing economies of expressionwith appeals to universal conventions and consolidation of commonexpressions. Referential expressions can be integral components ofautonomous expression, and they can be independent symbolic templatesthat can be mapped to many other forms of referential expression andartificial autonomous expressions.

12.34 The Invocation Language

Chapter 12: “The Invocation Language” presents a language of associationrelationships in terms of a string of symbols. It is the language ofdistributed concurrent behavior with uniform expressivity through alllevels of hierarchical composition. It is the key to scalable andreliable distributed concurrent computing.

12.35 Comparisons

One might think that there should have been more discussion ofcomparisons between the invocation model and the current theory ofcomputer science, but it is not possible to make meaningful comparisons.How does one compare a model of process within which state space ismeaningless in terms of state space. How does one compare a model thatis fundamentally distributed and concurrent in terms of strict sequenceor in terms of a central memory. How does one speak of a model ofspontaneous behavior in terms of explicit control. The gulf is toogreat. Any attempt at direct comparison would be a futile exercise inconfusion and ambiguity.

12.36 Models of Concurrency

The most influential contemporary models of concurrency begin withsequentiality such as communicating sequential processes [1] andcooperating sequential processes [2]. There are models that attempt todirectly model concurrency, but they are hampered by notions inheritedfrom sequentiality.

12.37 Petri Nets

A Petri net is a token flow model of concurrent behavior [3]. It is adirected graph of alternating places (circles) and transitions (fatlines). A place can contain tokens. A transition takes tokens from aninput place along an input arc of the transition and places tokens in anoutput place along an output arc of the transition. Each arc is assigneda token weight. The weights on input arcs indicate how many tokens mustbe in the associated place for the transition to fire. When a transitionfires, it removes a number of tokens equal to the weights of its inputarcs from each input place and sends the number of tokens equal to theweight of each output arc to each output place. Tokens flow along thedirected arcs of the graph as transitions fire.

The behavior of the tokens is directed and discrete. A Petri net has aform of completeness behavior in that a transition only fires when thereare enough tokens in the input places to satisfy the weights of theinput arcs, but transitions fire indiscriminately of each other and, inparticular, regardless of the state of receiving transitions. Thereseems to be a relationship between emptiness and fullness but this isnot a completeness relationship. A place can contain any amount oftokens and a firing transition will not necessarily empty all the tokensfrom a place. If the input places of a transition have enough tokens tofire three times, the transition will fire three times in immediatesuccession sending tokens to its output places. The firings oftransitions are not, themselves, coordinated. A transition fires whenits input is satisfied regardless of the state of the receiving placesallowing tokens to collide and pile up in places.

With an appropriate network structure and with a sufficiently sparseinitial marking of tokens, one can tease coordinated deterministicbehavior from component behaviors that are inherently nondeterministicin composition. If as a token flows, it trails emptiness immediatelybehind it, the tokens are kept far enough apart in the network bydependency relationships to avoid collisions. The alternation of theflow of completeness and emptiness through the network can effectivelymimic a monotonic coordination protocol like the NULL convention andcycles. FIG. 167 a shows a 2NCL pipeline of coupled cycles, and FIG. 167b shows the corresponding Petri net model. The weight of each arc isone. When a token enters the upper left place a token wavefront willflow through the expression mimicking the behavior of 2NCL cycles.

A Petri net is generally considered to be modeling control flow. It isonly a partial model of overall behavior. It does not model data or dataprocesses. Also the model of token flow does not correspond to availablespontaneous behaviors such as voltage level transitions.

12.38 Data Flow

Data flow does model data and data processes [4]. Data flow has manysimilarities to the invocation model. A data flow expression is anetwork of linked operators through which data flows. There is a notionof coordinating data flow in terms of completeness relationships. Anoperator can proceed only when all its input links have data in them andits output link is empty. The requirement that the output link be emptycorresponds to NULL, keeps successive wavefronts of data separated, andcoordinates the flow of data through the network. The behavior of a dataflow network is coordinated by the input completeness and outputemptiness relationships as data flows through the network.

There is no notion of central memory, all state is maintained in thelinks connecting the operators. All behavior and all memory isdistributed locally within the network. There is no globally influentialbehavior or data.

Since any operator with complete input can proceed, the data flow modelis inherently concurrent. This rule of behavior appears to eliminate anyexplicit notion of control in the model, but there is a critical factormissing. There is no intrinsic means of directly expressing orappreciating completeness of input or emptiness of output in thedefinition of the links or of the operators. The notion of data remainsone of continuous presentation and for the operators, which aretypically defined to be functions, one of stateless mappings. There muststill be a separate agent of control managing the flow of data throughthe operators. Completeness and emptiness is just a rule of behavior tobe enforced somehow or other. It is not an intrinsic behavior of themodel.

Typically a binary token flows along with data to indicate empty andfull. A controller manages operator behaviors and flow of data in termsof the token flow. The flow of the token and the data still have to becarefully timed. While the data flow model has transcended the explicitcontrol of sequence, it introduces the even more complex explicitcontrol of concurrency and concurrent timing relationships. Data flowcomputers have not become economically viable because the gainedperformance benefit has never exceeded the increased costs of complexconcurrency control. To achieve economic concurrency, the issues ofcritical timing and explicit control must be eliminated.

Data flow, as a network of linked operators, remains a one hierarchicallevel conception of concurrent behavior. An operator is not expressedinternally as a data flow graph and a data flow graph does not abstractinto an operator.

12.39 Asynchronous Circuit Design

Circuits of logic functions have always been inherently concurrentexpressions with unruly behavior. One solution was to filter out theunruly behavior with a time interval and a clock. Asynchronous circuitdesign is an attempt to tame the unruliness of concurrent behavior witha means other than a time interval and a clock [5][6]. At the primitivelevel of logic circuit design there cannot be an explicit controlexpression. The logic has to behave on its own terms.

The C-element was introduced which provided a logic operator withstate-holding behavior that could appreciate transitions betweendisjoint states. This enabled the notion of delay insensitive encodingof data, which is a form of the NULL convention. Asynchronous circuitswere then expressed with a combination of Boolean functions andC-elements. The difficulty is that the stateless Boolean functions wereretained. While such mixed expressions can be made to work, they arestill very complex and involve many critical timing relationships.Asynchronous circuit design is also a single-level model that resides atthe logic level.

12.40 Actors

At the upper level of abstraction lies actors: expressions that interactby sending and receiving messages [7]. Actors are not hierarchical. Theydo not compose to form new actors. The inside of an actor is asequential program or a script, not one or more other actors. Actors donot aspire to conceptual primitivity. The model assumes a supportingsystem, not expressed as actors, that manages message traffic, thedynamic instantiation of actors and the interpretation of an actor'sscript.

12.41 Connectionism

Connectionism, or parallel distributed processing, or neural networks,or associative processing, are all attempts at pure associationexpressions that learn. The characterization of these networks is stillin terms of continually presented data and continually acting statelessfunctions. The flow through an expression still needs to be timed andcontrolled.

12.42 Conclusion

The invocation model begins with the notion of differentness and itsappreciation, with the primitive concepts of associated thengs assertingvalues that change according to value transform rules. While severalconventions were introduced along the way, no new primitive conceptswere introduced. Associating thengs and their changing values aresufficient to encompass the expressions of natural computation and theexpressions of human computation in all their familiar forms.

The invocation model of process expression encompasses the expressionsof humans and the expressions of nature in the same sense thataerodynamics encompasses the wing of a bird and the wing of an airplane.Computer science is not an artificial science, it is as natural asphysics and chemistry. Contemporary computer science is simplydistracted by a very narrow mathematical view of computing and cannotsee beyond it.

It is as if aerodynamics had begun as “kite science.” A science of theartificial with a fundamental concept being the notion of a tether. Akite cannot possibly fly unless it is tethered against the wind. Withoutthe tether the kite must fall. The notion that a kite might create itsown wind is not part of the “science.” Computer science must create itsown wind and soar beyond its current sequential vistas.

It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely forthe purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limitingof the present invention. While the present invention has been describedwith reference to certain embodiments, it is understood that the wordswhich have been used herein are words of description and illustration,rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purviewof the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the present invention in itsaspects. Although the present invention has been described herein withreference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the presentinvention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosedherein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionallyequivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope ofthe appended claims

1. A circuit configured to effectuate dynamic behavior mapping:processing circuitry configured to: receive an input signal; receive afeedback signal from a feedback circuit; and processes the input signaland the feedback signal to generate an output behavior signal; feedbackcircuitry configured to: maintain a continuous positive signal; receivethe output behavior signal; provide the feedback signal to theprocessing circuitry, comprising: setting the feedback signal to thecontinuous positive signal when the output behavior signal represents apositive status; and setting the feedback signal to the output behaviorsignal when the output behavior signal is not positive, wherein thefeedback signal represents a non-positive status.
 2. The circuit ofclaim 1, when the processing circuitry and the feedback circuitry arenull convention logic circuits.
 3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein theprocessing circuitry: maintains the output behavior signal in responseto the feedback signal representing a positive status; changes theoutput behavior signal in response to the feedback signal representing anon-positive state.
 4. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the feedbackcircuitry internally continually generates the continuous positivesignal.
 5. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry hasa plurality of outputs, each output corresponding to a differentbehavior output signal, such that a change in the output behavior signalcorresponds to a changing in which of the plurality of outputs isactive.
 6. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outputs arein sequence, and the processing circuitry will switch to the next outputin sequence, which represents a different behavior, in response to thefeedback circuit representing a non-positive status.
 7. The circuit ofclaim 1, wherein the processing circuit provides different outputbehaviors in sequence, and changes the output behavior signal to thenext output behavior in the sequence in response to the feedback circuitrepresenting a non-positive status.
 8. The circuit of claim 1, whereinthe feedback circuitry further comprises an arbiter that gives priorityto a non-positive status, the feedback signal being based on the outputof the arbiter.
 9. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the feedbackcircuitry further comprises an arbiter that receives the output behaviorsignal and the continuous positive signal, and the gives priority to thereceived signal having a non-positive status, the feedback signal beingbased on the output of the arbiter.
 10. The circuit of claim 9, whereinthe output of the arbiter is the continuous positive signal when theoutput behavior signal represents a positive status, and the output ofthe arbiter is the output behavior signal when the output behaviorsignal is not positive.
 11. The circuit of claim 1, wherein theprocessing circuit provides different output behaviors in sequence, andchanges the output behavior signal to the next output behavior in randomorder in response to the feedback circuit representing a non-positivestatus.
 12. The circuit of claim 1, wherein the continuous positivesignal is constant during operation of the circuit.
 13. The circuit ofclaim 1, wherein the continuous positive signal is generatedindependently from the output behavior signal.
 14. The circuit of claim1, wherein the input signal, the feedback signal, and the outputbehavior signals are all data signals.